I felt like I needed to do something different from the norm, though I do tend to favor it. Plus, if your in your twenties, I wanted to ruin your childhoods a little. Far warning, this is going to be along story, so it's going to take me awhile to type it all up. Hope you enjoy.

...

"You know Arnold, its great having Jamie-o in collage. Heh, I'll never get tired of sayin' that," Gerald said to his best friend, a giant grin on his face. Arnold grinned back, showing his teeth.

"I couldn't agree more Gerald. And don't worry, its good to say," Arnold replied, his smile getting equally as big. The boys and the rest of the gang were currently in sixth grade, and considered themselves old and wiser. Jamie-o, Gerald's annoying older brother is almost twenty years old, hell, he will be in three weeks, is mostly staying at his dorm room at New York University. Yeah, Jamie-o had been surprised about that one too, but it's a good school and he got the full scholarship to go there. The young man, from what Gerald and Arnold Knew, was probably living it up at school, parting hard, drinking and dating any cute girl he could get his hands on.

"On another note, man I'm I glad that schools finally over for summer," Gerald said as they finally exited the school the school building. Their back backs were full with their stuff from school.

"Me to Gerald," Arnold replied, stretching his back and bouncing a little in excitement as they walked home. It was nice out, which meant a good day for walking.

"So my man, can you come with me on my family trip? It'd be awesome if you did," Gerald asked, his grin bright and begging.

"Gerald, it's a family trip, why would I go?" Arnold asked, an adorably confused expression on his face. That look would have made his semi-girlfriend Helga swoon. They were twelve, so the whole serious dating, they weren't really old enough. Gerald shook his head in annoyance, him and Arnold practically were family with how much they hung out. They were even at the point that their parents/grandparents were confused if one of the boys didn't call them mom/dad/gramps/gran.

"Because Arnold, you are family. Plus Jamie-o's bringing a 'very important' friend that he wants the family to meet. He even wanted to make sure you would come, pretty much saying you were his 'other' little brother," Gerald responded with a playful grin and shrug. Arnold shrugged as well, confused like his best friend, though he did feel a familiar curling of warmth in his gut when Gerald and his family considered him family.

"I'll ask my parents and grandparents," Arnold responded with a slow grin coming to his face.

"Cool," Gerald responded, grinning himself. About five fun filled days later, both Arnold and Gerald waited with the rest of Johansson family for Jamie-o and his guest to show up.

"This blows big time. Jamie-o was supposed to show up twenty minutes ago. He's such a jerk," Gerald grumbled to Arnold, who was just as annoyed as Gerald was and both were ready to get up and leave. Gerald's father just happened to walk by and over hear Gerald's comment.

"Ease up will you? You know how difficult it is to come from the airport to here," Arnold said, his own mood soured as well. He had a date with Helga at two-thirty and it was already three o'clock. Luckily enough for him, he'd called the girl and said he'd be late, because of Gerald's stupid older brother. She'd been upset, but had let it go at the mention of Gerald's brother. She knew better then most about older siblings that were completely ridiculous. Mr. Johansson having overheard this, shook his head at the rush the kids had.

"Boys, your brother is trying, his guest has kid siblings that they had to bring along because no one would watch them. They're about your age actually. Plus, having a twelve year old and a nine year old in the car can be a little slow," Mr. Johansson said, smiling at the two of them. Both boys smiled back briefly before looking at each other, uneasy with the thought of having more people on the family trip. Five minutes later, they heard the front door open and got up to see who it was.

"Guys, I'm home," Jamie-o's deep voice called out throughout the house. Timberly, who'd been in the kitchen squealed and shot through the house to the front door, wanting to be the first to greet her big brother and the fist to give him a hug. She froze when she say a very pretty olive skinned lady and two paler kids next to her oldest brother. Her child like mind became weary of such strangers, though her curiosity burned strong.

"Who are you? You're a really pretty lady, you know that right? Who are they? Are they your kids? Are you Jamie-o's sugar mama? Why are you so skinny? What's your favorite color? How'd you meet Jamie-o? How old are you?" Timberly asked in a rabid fire, but clear voice while she latched on to her brother.

"Timberly! Don't be rude," Jamie-o said, mortified while pushing his sister off. "It's okay Jamie, really, she's just curios," The pretty 'lady' said, soft voice a delicate, but deep enough timber. The Johansson family, plus Arnold, had come in at the start of TImberly's questions, wanting to greet the young man that they hadn't seen since Thanksgiving. Neither parties had enough money for two trips, mostly at christmas and Thanksgiving, so they decided to switch off. One year it was Christmas, the other year Thanksgiving.

"Hi, I'm Rowan, thank you for calling me a pretty lady, but I'm a boy. These are my younger siblings Sam and Jackson. No, I'm younger the Jamie, actually. I didn't know I was that skinny. Yellow and black. We met in class. I'm nineteen," Rowan replied with a warm grin. Sam waved and politely said 'hi' and Jackson scowled at them, saying 'hi' offhandedly, like it was a burden to do so.

"It's a pleasure to meet you Rowan," Mrs. Johansson said with a warm smile.

"The pleasure's all mine Ma'am. Thank you for allowing us to come with you on your trip. I apologize for the three extra mouths you have to feed, and I'll be glad to help out anyway I can," Rowan said, his face a little sheepish as he shook hands Mr. and Mrs. Johansson's hands.

"Why thank you very much Rowan," Mr. Johansson said with a grin.

"Your welcome sir," Rowan said, smiling as well. The meeting was going well at the moment and the family wasn't freaking out as badly as he thought they would, which was a relief to the slender male.

"Sorry I called you a lady," Timberly said shyly, a small blush on her face. Rowan smiled at her and waved it off. She usually lit up when she met guys, usually they were older and were really nice to her. Timberly liked the nice ones.

"Don't worry, it happens all the time, Jamie-o thought brother was a girl at first too," Sam said with a grin. Sam's crystal blue eyes sparkled happily, glad that the meeting was going so well. The family smiled back, enjoying the this little meeting. At first, they thought Jamie-o was bringing over a girl that he wanted them to meet, but it looked like another friend.

"It probably doesn't help that he dresses like a girl all the time," Jackson said huffily, an angry scowl on his hansom face. Rowan made a 'tsking' sound at his brother, quietly reprimanding him from being rude in front of they're hosts. He looked up and smiled nervously at said hosts, not knowing how'd they take that.

"Dresses like a girl?" Mr. Johansson asked, eyes wide and mouth slightly open, surprise clear on his face. The rest of the family stared at the straight laced and blushing Jamie-o for an explanation. Rowan's own nervous smile dropped in realization before he whirled on Jamie-o, scowl on his delicate face. His slender, but scared hands parked themselves on his slender hips as his dark green eyes flashed angrily.

"You didn't tell them did you? We discussed these Jamie, I ain't gonna be nobody's dirty little secret. You said you'd tell them and I thought they'd have gotten used to it by now, dammit Jamie, you promised," Rowan snapped out, glare deepening. Jamie-o raised his hands up, knowing that Rowan was fierce when angry. He put them down seconds later when Rowan calmed down.

"Jubes, calm down, I did say I'd tell them, and I almost did, but I got to nervous. Before we continue, can we continue this to the living room?" Jamie-o said, voice nervous but surprisingly calm, one hand reached out and touched Rowan briefly before dropping it back to his side. Rowan gave him a look before turning to his siblings.

"'Jamie'? You don't let anybody call you Jamie. What's goin' on?" Gerald asked, voice holding a tone of nervousness. In the back of Gerald's mind, a little voice said you was going to lose his big brother, and that caused him some panic. The other family members started babbling about what was happening, and what was going on.

"What's going on?" Arnold asked, though it was barely heard over the din of voices that was creating a loud cacophony in the front entrance of the house.

"ENOUGH! Living room, NOW," Mr. Johansson shouted to the family. They all went completely silent before going into the living, nervously looking over at Jamie and the mystery male next to him. As soon as the group was in the living room, they quickly found seats situated around the large family den, all conveniently staring at where the eldest Johansson child was sitting. Jamie-o had chosen to sit on the love seat, looking calmly at his family, though a hint of terror was in his gaze. Rowan sat next to him, on the arm rest of the small couch, looking for all the world that it was his fault and that Mr. Johansson was going to beat him up. In one bold move, Jamie-o pulled Rowan into his lap and secure his arm across Rowan's slender waist. Sam, who had chosen to sit at their feet, snickered while Jackson stood next to the three with a scowl on his face.

"Eek! Don't do that," Rowan said with a squeal, smacking Jamie-o in the chest. Jamie-o grinned and gently wrapped a long strand of Rowan's sable hair around one of his fingers, tugging it teasingly. The family stared silently for a few long moments, processing what they were seeing