Hey guys! So, I know this is a really short chapter and that it has a really weird ending, but I felt really bad because I've already gotten 102 reviews for my first three chapters, and then I just left you guys hanging. I'm a total jerk, but rl sucks. :P Anyway, I hope you enjoy and all the information about the story is at the beginning of the first three chapters (including the disclaimer.) Love you!

Chapter 4 – Around the Town

By the time Mark woke up after the exhausting process, the sun had sunk beind the horzion and it was late evening. He sat up from his position on the couch and looked around, blushing when he realized that Bruce, his Father, had fallen asleep curled around him, in a protective position. Mark attempted to squirm out of his grasp to avoid waking Bruce up, but he didn't succeed. His father jerked up at the motion and swung his head around, apparently looking for something, or someone. Bruce's face softened when his eyes rested on Mark, and his lips curled into a lazy smile.

"Hey, menino, how are you feeling?" As Bruce ran his eyes over Mark's body he realized again how much the boy had changed, physically, and wondered how his son would react. The thoughts of Mark's appearance left his mind when he saw the lack of light in the room. He looked towards the window and apprehended how late it was. Mark must have been starving!

"How do you feel about going out for some food tonight? Getting a feel of the community?" Bruce's eyebrows went up when Mark's face turned even redder and became downcast. "Hey buddy, what's the matter? Don't you want to eat?"

Mark shook his head slowly. "N-no, I am okay," he whispered, blushing even more as his stomach betrayed his true feelings.

"Haha, I think your tummy is saying something different, huh? Hey, why don't we go out and try to find something to eat. Does that sound good?" Mark looked up at his father as Bruce said that and nodded quickly, knowing that a response was expected of him. "Alright, let's go then. Vamos!"* Mark giggled at the new word and even began to laugh as Bruce swooped him up onto his shoulders. As soon as the laugh sounded though, his mouth snapped shut and he clammed up. Bruce noticed the action, but decided to ignore it for now, and made a private resolution to attempt to draw the little boy out a little more. He decided that he wanted to see Mark interact, and feel free to express himself.

Throughout his contemplation of this issue, Bruce had ended up walking to the end of the street, and had nearly walked into one of his neighbor's house.

"Hey!O que você está fazendo,gringo? Quem é filho?"** Bruce mentally appreciated the fact that most of his neighbors where so friendly before responding.

"Eleé o meu - garoto!Acabei de - descobrir que -sobre ele.O nome - dele éMark."*** The neighbor grinned at his stuttering speech, but didn't comment on the fact that Bruce had to look up every other word in his little dictionary. The man understood that Bruce was planning on staying here a long while and was working on speaking better.

"Ah, Marcos! Parabéns pelo seufilho! Elese parece muito comvocê."**** With that, the man gave Mark a grin, Bruce a celebratory pat on the back, and went back into his home. Bruce smiled when he recognized the reason for his quick exit, the man's wife had been calling him, and his children were riled up when they should've been ready for bed. Laughing quietly, Bruce walked on, Mark still on his shoulders.

"Alright, menino, what would you like to eat tonight, huh?" The boy hemmed and hawwed at his question before responding meekly.

"Can, can I have meat, pwease? And, can I have water?" Bruce raised his eyebrows at the simple requests, and nodded his he quickly.

"Of course you can have meat! Do you have any idea what kind of meat you would like, or should I chose some for you? How about... bifeou frango?"***** Bruce realized that Mark wouldn't understand what he was asking and added on, "uh, steak or chicken? Does that sound good?"

With a jerky nod of little Mark's head, which Bruce could feel but not see, the two were off. Bruce moved smoothly and quickly with his long legs and it wasn't far on their trek through the favela before his small child had fallen asleep on his shoulders. The new father didn't mind much as it gave him more time to contemplate their predicament. He acknowledged the fact that it would now be necessary for him to accept the full time job as an engineer at the company, which he had been offered so many times before, though he had ardently avoided it thus far.

Because of his condition, Bruce always needed to live and travel light, and he would now have to teach Mark to do the same. Unfortunately, he also realized that his son would not have most of these necessities yet, and he would have to use a great part of his already small savings to collect them. Bruce was simply thankful for the fact that Mark was already potty trained.

Edit: For some reason, when I put the translations in here the first time, FF took them off the chapter, so I am going to attempt to do it again. Here they are.

* Come on

**Hey! What are you doing, gringo? Who is the son? (I realize that to some, the term gringo might be rude or insulting, but hopefully most of you will realize that I've used it in the friendly tones of a neighbor, much as the Hispanic and Portuguese people I am friends with use with me. :)

***"He's my - kid! I just - found out about him -. his name is Mark.

****"Oh, Mark! Congratulations on your child! He looks a lot like you.

***** beef or chicken

So yeah, there you go. Basic translations of all the Portuguese in the chapter, besides what has been used in previous chapters. :D