I'm so sorry it took me this long to update but real life has kept both me and my beta very busy this was the soonest we could get this done. At some point we'll try to come up with a way to make sure it doesn't takes months til then enjoy what you have waited for. Happy Reading!
-Note- -Note-
"…Count?"
Chris whispered in disbelief. This could not have been reality. What he was seeing, could it really have been the truth? The Count… was in the living room? Sitting on the couch? This had to be a dream, he thought briefly to himself. Yes, that had to be it. Because not only had his big brother come for him, but the Count had come along for him as well.
Chris had thought that the Count sending him to Josie and Samantha was the other's way of being rid of him. He knew that the Count didn't like people, regardless of what his demeanor belied, as the Count had taught him, it was just good manners to always be polite. A part of him had believed that, even if he had been sent back to Leon like he had asked to be on so many occasions, that the Count would not let him come and stay at the shop anymore. The Count would no longer want to be a part of his life anymore, would want to be done with the broken child that had been forced on him. Another part of Chris had argued over and over that none of this could possibly be true through. While the Count was always unfailingly polite he did not do things he really did not want to do. If he allowed Chris at the shop, then it was because he wanted him there.
Seeing the Count now, that piece inside of Chris's mind could not help but feel validated.
"Count..?"
D stood and smiled the same smile that seemed to only be for him and the pets. "Christopher…" D stepped forward and opened his arms. Chris did not hesitate to fly into them, wrapping his own arms around D and holding on as if the Count would vanish if he let go.
"Young Christopher, you seem to have grown," D returned the hug, holding young Christopher in his arms again. Knowing he couldn't simply stand there holding the child all day, he released his hold and took a step back to have a better look at the young one.
D blinked his eyes slowly. He…did not like what he could see. Chris' gaze seemed clouded over, and there were bags under his eyes. His skin was pale and his posture all wrong, hunched over with some weight on his shoulders that shouldn't be there. D opened his mouth to ask Chris about his observations, but before he could move his lips to speak on his findings Chris' aunt returned with the tea.
-Line Break-
As she left the Chinese man in the din and made her way to the kitchen, Evelyn couldn't help but to wonder how this visit would end. She wanted to remain hopeful, a small part of her unwilling to let go, but a larger part of her knew that she was probably going to lose her little boy when all was said and done.
As she started to make the tea, she couldn't help but think about how badly this would end. She was not unaware that Leon still had custody of Chris. That unspoken elephant in the room was the very reason why they did not tell Leon about the therapy sessions or about any of the things that the therapist said. They kept Leon in the dark about the prescriptions and the attempts at placing as much distance between the two siblings as possible (though she was more than sure that Leon could deduce that the latter was taking place).She had taken it as a blessing when the therapist suggested limiting contact with Leon. It gave them a convenient excuse to keep Chris away from Leon, became a solid reason for why he could not talk to Leon every day.
But, again, Leon had custody of Chris. He could, at any time, demand they return Chris or, worse yet, decide to have them all charged with kidnapping.
Evelyn was scared that she would lose her little boy when she had only just gotten him back.
Josie and Andrew could act like nothing changed, but it had. They wanted to believe that they were Chris's family, that they were paramount in Chris' life and that Leon only shared blood. They did not seem to realize the truth of the matter like she had. She could see clearly that, regardless of what the other two may believe, that their roles in the relationship had changed.
Josie and Andrew did this to themselves when they chose to send him away.
Leon had become Chris' family now; they were simply the relatives that were trying to force the issue.
And Samantha…
Evelyn shook her head. She didn't even want to think about how Samantha was behaving. Her outburst over a doll had destroyed their family, ruined all dynamics of it, and she did not seem to care. She had heard the girl on the phone, telling her friends that Chris was adopted, that he had killed his own mother in child birth. She knew Chris had overheard it too, Samantha's words. It was painfully obvious to everyone, or, at least it was to her, when Chris wouldn't even look at Samantha anymore.
Evelyn clenched her eyes shut and bit at the inside of her cheek. Her family was falling apart before her very eyes and she could not think of a way to fix it. It was…ov—
The tea kettle whistled, surprising her from her thoughts. She blinked the tears away from her eyes and moved at a hurried pace to prepare a tray for the tea. She pulled down a decorative teapot from the cabinet and set it gently on a silver platter, her thoughts once again returning back, back to the happy boy that Josie had brought home. Not even two months later had that once again happy boy returned to being miserable, and distant.
Evelyn walked into the den to see her little boy in the arms of the count, and almost dropped the tray in her hands. Chris hadn't let any of them touch him since the therapy started, and yet, here he was, willing another to hold him and unwilling to break the contact.
She swallowed the lump in her throat and fought the tears that were threatening to overcome her. Then and there, in this instant, she knew he wasn't hers anymore.
Clearing her throat, Evelyn fought to keep her voice from trembling and spoke. "I hope you don't mind jasmine tea," She smiled, the action bittersweet as she tried not to think about the hug she could not have.
D smiled in her direction. It was small and courteous, but there was no light in his eyes at all. "Jasmine is fine," D said, moving to seat himself on the lovely expensive couch.
"Christopher, why don't you join us?" D said as he laced his fingers together and watched the aunt of his dear Leon as she tilted began to pour the tea. "It's been to long since we have had tea together." Seeing the smile on the Count's face, Chris knew there was no way he was going to say no.
"Okay!"
-Line Break-
Leon stormed out of the room and made it a little down the hallway before running into Josie.
"Leon!?" Josie exclaimed in surprise, "W-What are you doing here?" She had not seen the other man in years, not even when she and Samantha went to pick up Chris. At the time, Leon had been at work, so their paths had not crossed at the time. She still felt bad for that, but she was in a hurry to bring Chris back home. Chris belonged with his family.
"I came to surprise Chris," Leon rested a hand on his hip as he spoke. He wanted to be angry, to curse and blame her for the entire situation. So many misunderstandings, so many unnecessary methods, and so much unneeded hurt for Chris— all of it could have been avoided if she had not come and stole Chris behind his back. But, as past experiences had taught him, he understood that she was only doing what she thought was best even if it was just to make Samantha feel better.
"That's great!" Josie smiled, trying to sound enthusiastic, "I'm sure he was happy to see you." Her eyes darted from Leon to the walls to the floor, where she allowed her gaze to stay directed at. She rung her hands in the air and dropped them at her sides before exhaling deep and speaking again.
"Leon, do you think we can talk?" She raised her head and looked Leon in the eyes. "I know you're probably still angry with me—I mean, why wouldn't you be? I took Chris away from you. I understand if you hate me for it, but…but I-I don't know how to make this right!" Josie's voice rose and trembled the longer she spoke. She blinked rapidly, her eyes watering as tears collected in the corners and prepared to fall.
Leon stared at Josie, watched her hunched shoulders and trembling body before exhaling slowly, sadly, and speaking. "Yeah," He agreed with the distraught woman, "I was pretty angry at you for that. But," Leon shook his head and gave her a soft smile. "But, you know, no matter how upset I might be at you, I'm always here for you… That's what family's for." But even as Leon spoke, he couldn't help but to think he knew what she was going to do next.
Josie slowly nodded her head before she turned to lead Leon down the back steps and into the kitchen.
"Tea?" She pointed to the prepared drink resting on the stove, offering Leon a cup as she gets herself something from the fridge.
Leon shakes his head and declines the tea, but accepts the soda Josie offers from inside the refrigerator. She grabbed a drink for herself before moving over to the kitchen table and taking a seat.
Leon followed her lead, sitting opposite of her at the decent sized table. They shared a few swallows of their drinks in silence before Josie spoke again.
"Leon," Josie cradled her soda in her hands and shook her head. "…I don't know what to do. I helped bring Chris here; thinking that, maybe, if he forgave Samantha then things could finally go back the way they were in the past. But, that's not what happened, though.
"Chris has changed. He's grown up and we don't know him as well as we use to. I've been telling myself that if we just give him time, everything would fall into place. But then he started to talk to animals, started saying that they could understand him and talked back. At first, we just thought it was his way of showing us that he missed you, so we didn't think anything of it. But, then, things got…complicated…" He drummed her nails along the can in nervousness before continuing.
"Because of what happened between Chris and Sam, and the pervious trauma, mom and dad decided it was best if they sent him to therapy. I still though that the animal thing was his way of saying he wanted to go back to you, and… I won't lie to you, Leon. It hurt. He's my little brother! I love him! I don't want to say goodbye and never see him again!" Her voice raised higher, panic and desperation lacing her words as she spoke. "I know you wouldn't stop visits, even after what happened last time, but to tell you the truth, I'm more afraid he'll blame me for this new pain he feels and never wants to see me again…" Tears collected in the corners of her eyes and slid down her cheeks.
"I…I wish I hadn't been so impulsive. Samantha begged to be able to make up her behavior to Chris- she felt so bad! I couldn't tell her no! And mom and dad… Mom saw Chris on the news and collapsed into tears. That's when Samantha asked to go apologize…" Josie narrowed her eyes at the mention of Samantha's name. "But then… after last time, I heard her telling her friends that Chris was adopted and that he killed his mom by being born. I'm sure Chris over heard her too. He won't even look at her now."
Josie trembled in her seat, her shoulders shaking as she continued to speak. "Leon, I know that nothing I say or do can fix this, but I…I don't want my family to fall apart!" By the time, Josie reached the end of her speech she was in tears, her blue eyes turning red, her face flushed and hair wild around her face.
Leon looked conflicted and lost. He didn't know what to do, couldn't find the words to say to in order to comfort her, so, instead, he decided to tell her the truth.
"Josie," Leon addressed her, "I'm not gonna lie to make you feel better. When I leave here, I have every intention of taking Chris with me." Josie looked up at him, inhaled sharp and deep. Slowly, nodded her head to show that she was still listening.
Leon nodded back, then continued speaking. "I've had a feeling something wasn't right for a while after Chris left. I understand how hard this has to be for you, but, just because I left him with your family, it doesn't mean that he's stopped being mine. He's still my baby brother." Leon closed his eyes briefly, remembering the past. "…I was eighteen, then. I had just gotten into the academy. I couldn't provide for Chris like your parents could. So sending him here… I just knew it would be better for him."
And look how that turned out, an infuriated piece of Leon chimed in. He shook his head to dismiss the thought, he was about to fix all of that today.
"Josie," Leon opened his eyes, once again returned his focus on the present. "Don't think that my leaving Chris here meant that he wasn't my brother anymore. And, now, seeing all that has been going on here, it's clear to me- this isn't what's best for Chris anymore. So, talk to him, tell him everything you just told me, explain to Chris why you did what you did. He's is a smart kid. He'll understand. Make it clear that just because he is leaving you, it doesn't mean that he's not your brother anymore, and you want to stay in contact. I know Chris he will be happy he still has you." Leon smiled at Josie before finishing his drink and standing from his seat. "I'll be leaving with him in a week. Take that time to settle things with him."
After Leon said his peace, he turned from the kitchen and walked out to find D and Chris, leaving Josie at the table to think over what he had said. He made his way first to the den, since he was aware that the area is usually the place where his aunt invites her company. Approaching the large room, Leon could hear two familiar voices talking, and he smiled softly to himself.
-Line Break-
D had just finished explaining to Chris how he had to sneak out of the shop because Pon-chan and T-chan were determined to come along on the trip so that they could see him when he heard distinct footsteps heading their way. Keeping his attention on Chris, he listened to the familiar stepping pattern to come closer.
His dear detective made an appearance in the doorway scant moments later. D noticed that his dear detective watched as he and Christopher continued to talk, and made no move to join them.
"My dear detective, won't you come in and join us?" D posed the observation as a question, a request, but the look in his eyes promised Leon that he would pay if he chose not to. Slowly, Leon entered the room instead of just standing in the entryway and moved to sit next to his aunt. He turned to her and spoke to her in a hushed voice, but D could read from where he was sitting that the two were discussing about Leon taking Chris with him in a week, to make sure he was ready, that he would be telling Chris tonight.
D causally returned his full attention to Chris, asking him how school was going.
Chris, knowing that he couldn't hide anything from D, explained that he was being home schooled now, and that he was ahead in his studies. Even though he was only nine he was on a tenth grade level in reading, math, science and that he was at a twelfth grade level in history because of D, when he lived with him and told him stories. D was proud of Chris, and he smiled and told him so when, suddenly Chris' mother stood and hurried from the room.
D and Christopher turned to face Leon, and D sat nearby as his dear detective stood and told them Chris should go get ready, that he was taking him out for dinner to celebrate seeing each other again.
"Oh… Okay, big bro. What should I wear?" Chris asked as he looked at Leon.
"Nothing too fancy," Leon smiled down to Chris. "You know me, I don't do fancy."
The Count watched as Chris nodded his head in agreement then left to go up to his room.
"Chris is coming back with us when we leave," Leon spoke, turning to the Count, his shoulders tight and fists tightly clenched. "He can't stay here. I don't like what has been happening to him since he came back here. We still leave in a week, so you and I should both make our appointments." Leon explained. Leon must have seen the question on his face because he turned and checked to make sure Chris wasn't returning before responding. He explained what he overheard and what had been going on since Chris had come to New York. The further he went into the story, the more destressed D became. Leon sat down next to him and put a comforting arm around his shoulders.
"You didn't know it would come to this," Leon spoke softly, lightly, pulling D closer. "You shouldn't blame yourself for this. You thought that it would be good for Chris to be with his family again." Leon attempted to soothe the Count, trying to make it clear that D was not the one at fault, and that everything was going alright.
But, no, it was not going to be alright. D would make it right…
D was already planning how to make them pay for doing this to his little one. Chris was his, just because he let him go didn't mean he wasn't his anymore.
Leon tightened his grip on D's shoulder, pulled him closer, held him tighter. It was a good gesture, the act, but it was a nice treat as well. D snuggled a little closer, laid his head on his dear detective's shoulder, and sniffed as though he was crying.
Because, soon, this would be over, and he only had a little time he had left with his dear detective…
-Twenty minutes later-
The sound of footstep made D stand to straighten himself out. Leon stood and turned to see Chris entering the room.
"I'm ready, Big bro," Chris said as he walked into the room. He had changed out of his sweats and t-shirt into a pair of jeans and a nice, simple shirt, keeping it casual as Leon had instructed him to.
"Let's get going," Leon cheered as he headed for the door. Seeing his aunt and uncle waiting by the door he turned to his aunt and spoke casually.
"I'll have him back before nine," Leon informed her before opening the door to let Chris and D by.
Once in the car and on the road, Leon turned to D to ask where he would like to eat.
"Every time I come to New York, pizza is my first choice because, you know, world's best pizza. But I brought you, and I know that ain't gonna fly, so I'll let you choose the place… So long as they have meat available," Leon told D while making sure to keep an eye on the road.
D looked thoughtful for a moment before mentioning an Italian place that was famous for their tiramisu. They wouldn't to have to drive back into the city, so they would have more time to relax and enjoy spending time with Christopher. And not having to worry about the 9 o'clock deadline meant that they could actually relax.
Taking D's suggestion, fifteen minutes later they were parking the car, and ten minutes from that, they were being seated. After placing their orders, they made small talk until the food was being placed in front of them.
"Chris, there's something I need to tell you." Leon furrowed his brow slightly. It had been on his mind since they got into the car, wondering about how to even begin to break the news to Chris.
"I had a talk with uncle and we came to a decision, that it would be in your best interest to come back home to Los Angeles with me." After Leon finished he watched Chris for any negative reaction to the news.
He knew that what he was doing was best for Chris. However, that doesn't change the fact that he would be taking away him from his family again, from the people that he considered his parents and the siblings he grew up with.
It had to be done, Leon constantly repeated to himself. There was no other way, and if there was he would take it in a heartbeat. For all that they had put Chris through, it was out of love. They wanted him to be happy and healthy; it was just that, they just couldn't see that they couldn't provide that for him anymore.
Chris sat frozen in his seat. Leon wasn't sure what he was feeling, wasn't sure what he would say, but he waited silently, patiently for Chris' reaction. He knew, based on the things that he had overheard, that Chris was not happy at the house. Based on the limited amount of phone calls the two shared, Chris seemed excited to want to see D, eat the sweets D always had, and hang out at D's shop. But, this was still his family that he was taking Chris from. He might still want to st—
"That's Great!" Chris shouted happily from his seat. "I love Uncle Drew and Aunt Eve, but being with them isn't home anymore. It hasn't really felt like home since I came back…" Leon could feel the anger build inside himself as Chris' words trailed off.
"I love them and Josie, but I don't think of them as my parents anymore." Leon noticed that Chris couldn't even bring himself to mention Samantha. He had no doubt then that Chris had overheard Samantha then. But he swore to himself that Chris would never have to go through anything like that again.
"Well, we'll be leaving in a week, so…"
D sat silently, watching as the brothers worked everything out. He smiled whenever his dear detective looked his way, appearing to follow the conversation, but inside, he was plotting on a way to punish those who had hurt his chosen ones. The youngest daughter was in need of a special punishment after she hurt the little one again. And the parents, they would pay for sure, but he might let the oldest go free.
He had the perfect gift for the young girl, he would make sure to send it as soon as he returned to his shop. Weren't the parents in for a surprise? He would punish them all in one go…
"D, we need to get Chris home," He heard his dear detective say, catching the Count's attention as he was standing up from the table after paying for their meal.
"Of course, My dear detective. We wouldn't want to cause anymore friction." D stood and held his hand out for Chris, smiling when the boy took it without hesitation.
After dropping Chris back off to his aunt and uncle, they made their way back to the hotel. D wanted to talk to Leon about what he was going to do about Chris returning with them. D couldn't help but think about how he would gladly welcome Chris back to the shop. He did, however, have to think about what would happen with his unwanted fiancé. He doubted that they would just quietly let him continue to pay his dear detective so much attention. They may even try to put up a fight regarding his little one—not that they would win, but still.
Walking into their room, D turned to Leon and asked what his plans were for when he brought Chris home. And that was how they spent the rest of the night, settling on D's bed, making plans and discussing what needed to be done.
-One day before heading home-
His uncle waited until his last day to try to convince Chris and Leon that the best place for Chris was right there with him and his wife.
"Chris needs to be grounded! He won't get any better with you coming in from nowhere and taking him away from all of the help that we are providing for him!"
Leon glared at the older man and clenched his hands into fists. "You aren't helping Chris like this!" Leon argued, Chris nodding along to his words as he stood at Leon's side.
"He's right." Chris stepped in front of Leon and addressed the angered man in front of him. "Uncle Drew, this place... it hasn't been the same, not since I was brought back here." Tears collected in the corners of Chris' eyes as he looked up at the man he once looked toward as a father figure.
"Uncle, I want to go with Leon." A few tears fell down his cheeks as he continued to speak. "I love you all, and I always will, but I'm not happy here anymore. I know you love me, but that's not enough." Chris wiped the tears from his eyes and stared determinately into his father figure's eyes. "You don't seem to realize it, but people can change— I have. Since living with Leon and D, I've been happier than I have ever been. But, being here is different."
"Samantha…" He felt hollow just saying the name, but he had to get it out, he had to let his uncle know the truth. "Samantha is not who you all make her out to be, and ignoring how she acts, how she treats me, it's making our already delicate situation so, so much worse…"
Chris inhaled deep. He had to flat out say to his uncle what he knew was the truth, even though he knew that it would crush him and his aunt whom he loved dearly.
"I don't feel like you're my parents anymore, and I don't think I could ever feel like that again. There's too much between us now." Chris swallowed heavily before he spoke. "I love you guys, I really do. Now, though, I think it's time for us to walk away." As Chris finished this statement he could almost see the heartbreak in his uncle's eyes, but even still, as he finally said the words out loud, Chris knew they were some of the truest he ever spoke. He remembered how hurt he was when they sent him away. They said that it was to help him, but none of them even came with him to make sure that he would be alright. They just sent him to Leon and abandoned him. They sent him to Leon, his brother, someone who, despite having barely any free time for himself or much money of his own, took him in and was the best big brother that he could ask for.
"This isn't home for me anymore. But I'm about to go back to my real home tomorrow."
After that conversation, his uncle could not look him in the eye anymore. His aunt acted as through nothing had changed, but Chris figured that it was because she already saw this coming. He knew they loved him, and he knew they thought that it was no different than the love they showed to Josie and Samantha. However, he was sure that when they finally thought back on this day, that they would realize that how they handled the situation with Samantha was wrong, and that this was the a large part of the reason that they were losing their son.
-Airport-
"Ready to go home?" Leon asked Chris and D as they moved to board the plane.
"I've been ready for almost a year!" Chris said, holding both Leon and D's hands.
