Scene 10 - Kitchen

Stephen and Nicole were surprised to see Declan and Foss, but only for a moment. They have mixed feelings towards Foss, because of the nature of his work, but they also knew everything he did, he did it in Kyle's best interest, and they were grateful for that.

Nicole stood up, welcomed them in pleasantly, "Please, come in, would you like some breakfast?" Before either could answer, Stephen and Nicole already seated them and handed them a plate.

Kyle took a seat next to Jessi and smiled at her. Everyone got settled to eat their breakfast, Lori and Josh knew better to keep their mouths shut. Josh kept glancing toward Foss every now and then. He was wondering what kind of gadgets Foss had hidden up his sleeves. There was an obvious tension around the table, as everyone was anxious to learn what happened the night before, but no one wanted to be the first one to ask. Nicole decided to ease into the conversation by asking if Kyle was thirsty.

"Would you like something to drink, Kyle?"

Kyle noticed the concern in her voice and the tension around the table, and realised he still needed to tell everyone what happened, so he decided to light up the mood first before going into his story. Remembering his first dinner with the Trager's, "Juice me!" while smiling at Nicole brightly. Everyone except Jessi and Foss chuckled as Jessi tilted her head, puzzled and intrigued."I would like some juice, too." Nicole smiled at her and poured her a glass of orange juice as well.

Kyle observed her puzzlement and smiled at her, "I will tell you about it later." And reflexively cover her hand with his under the table. She smiled and blushed. Nicole watched their interaction, but let it go deciding it's a problem for another day. Trying to recover herself, Jessi reached for her juice with her other hand, this is when Kyle noticed for the first time Jessi was wearing Sarah's Latnok ring. Kyle wanted to ask her how she got it, but he decided the family couldn't wait any longer for his story, so he recounted what happened last night to them.

I told them about the warehouse, where I successfully destroyed the fluid with Mark's help. I told them about finding Cassidy at home, how he had sent them to the Rack and how worried I was. I then told them about how he threatened everyone I cared about and how he threatened he would make Jessi wish she was really dead, at that I squeezed Jessi's hand again to reassure she was here with me. Then I told them that was when I started to lose my temper.

"I started beating him, choking him, that was how Cassidy, how I broke to patio door." Everyone listened attentively in disbelief that Kyle would hit someone. "When he said something even worse, I was no longer in control of myself…" he looked up sheepishly. "I…" Jessi noticed his discomfort of revealing how he nearly killed Cassidy, she decided to cut in.

"I then arrived home with Amanda, Kyle got distracted and Cassidy escaped." Kyle looked at her and smiled at her gratefully. She returned a smile of her own. Only she was actually saddened further by Kyle's story. Although she knew Kyle only resulted in violence because how protective he was about the people he cares about, and she was happy Kyle thinks of her as important as the rest of his family. Though she couldn't help but to think Kyle lost control because of her, because of his need to avenge her mother, his fear for losing her for being related to Cassidy. Spending a night with Kyle had almost changed her mind to leave, but she now knew she has to leave to save Kyle from her.

"You actually hit someone?" Suddenly exclaimed Josh, "Well done for finally manning up! Moving away from all the dodging and…" He stopped as he saw both of his parents glaring at his inappropriateness.

Josh's words again cut into Jessi like a knife.

Seeing Kyle still distressed, despite Josh's cheer, Lori, being much more mature than her little brother, did something unexpected to the rest of the family, reached out and rested a consoling hand on his shoulder, smiled at him. "It's Ok, Kyle, you were protecting our family, you did nothing wrong."

"So, what did Cassidy say?" asked Stephen, obviously worried about further danger to the family.

Kyle looked up into his parent's eyes, said with nothing but sincerity. "What I am about to tell you does not change in anyway how I feel about you, you mean everything to me, this family means everything to me."

"What is it, Kyle?" Nicole was getting worried now.

"Cassidy is the son of one of the senior Latnok members, Grace Kinsley. Cassidy told me that she is also my biological mother, and he is my brother." Blood drained out of Nicole's face and she looked stricken.

"Could he have been lying?" Stephen sat up, put an arm around Nicole seeing her reaction.

Jessi said, "I found the documentation on Kyle's origins, it appears to be true."

"But Kyle, Brian Taylor assured us that there were no other relatives. Of course he was lying, that was just part of Peterson's cover story, it wasn't real. I let myself believe. I can't lose you again Kyle." Nicole blurted out and started crying.

Kyle was instantly by his mother's side, embraced his mother as tightly as possible without hurting her, she clutched him just as tightly.

"Nicole, you are not going to lose me. This is my family, this is my home. And you are my mother, I am Kyle Trager, no one can ever tell me otherwise. The only family I have are all sitting right here in this kitchen. You, Stephen, Josh, Lori and Jessi even Foss and Declan." He said as he looked around the table, Jessi was again glad she was included, but saddened by the fact she has to leave the only real family she ever had. Kyle continued as tears started forming in his eyes, "You are the ones stood by my side no matter what." He paused a bit, "I love you, Mom. I love all of you" He looked around the table, with that, Nicole started to breathe more evenly. The rest of family including Declan smiled at this touching interaction, even Foss let out a small smile before returning to his stoic expression.

I had called Nicole 'Mom' when I first arrived, I didn't understand the clear meaning of the word, now I said it understanding what it really meant, and it felt right. I decided from that moment, I wanted to call Nicole 'mom' rather than 'Nicole'.

As the mother and the son still held on to each other tightly, tears still rolling down their faces, Kyle suddenly asked voice full of sincerity, "Can I call you mom and dad from now on?" looking towards Stephen at the word 'dad'. Both of the parents almost chuckled at the question. Nicole brought her son to a standing position, pulled away a little to share a glance with Stephen, who also stood up to get closer. Looking back to their son again, who had a childlike pleading expression, said in in unison, "Of course you can, son." As the three of them held on to each other becoming one, this time with joyful tears in their eyes.

Jessi sat there smiled and amazed at Kyle's ability to bring such joyfulness to fill the whole room, no matter how bad the situation is. In the back of her mind, another thought came to her, I do not deserve someone like him.

As everyone cleared out of the kitchen. Kyle and Nicole still weren't ready to let go of each other. Foss didn't want to interrupt their moment, so he informed Stephen and Jessi of his plan.

"I am going to take Declan to find Cassidy, try to stay together." He nodded towards Jessi, "It should be relatively safe for now with both you and Kyle here, but nonetheless, stay alert." With that, he left with Declan before anyone could say anything.

Josh went back to his room to talk with Andy online, while Stephen called the window company. Jessi and Lori both headed back towards their rooms.

Kyle thought back to the night before, again fear crept into him, fear of himself, fear of the way he lost control, the way he had nearly beaten someone to death. He decided to talk to his mother. "Mom, can we talk in my room for a bit."

"Sure." Was all she said, knowing the full strength of her bond with her son, she is no longer afraid of anything.

I would like to especially thank WilliamShipley for this chapter, many elements in here were inspired from his story