Sorry this took so long! But here is the moment we've all been pining for (including myself)...:D

Disclaimer: I do not own Beyblade. Just Jessy and Draiza.

Chapter 14

This was it. The moment I had been waiting for since I left the Abbey. Seeing my boys again. Tala and I waited in tense anticipation at the front desk. The nurse said they would be out shortly. My eyes stayed glued to the door that they would come out of. I tapped my foot repeatedly, too anxious to keep still for long.

Finally, the door opened. A sandy-haired man in a blazer and jeans stepped out first. And suddenly, they were standing in the room. They looked…different.

Bryan was in a gray T-shirt and dark colored jeans, looking like his usual fierce self. But something was…off. Ian looked around nervously, his maroon eyes darting from one place to the next, never really focusing on one thing. He fiddled with the edge of his red T-shirt. Spencer was still stoic and brooding, but he appeared to be especially…observant. Something was definitely off with them, but after my initial pause, I felt the joy of seeing them again course through me.

My boys. Ian finally met my gaze and gave a small smile. Bryan smirked at me and Spencer's eyes softened.

All of a sudden, Bryan launched himself at Tala, putting his arm around the taller boy's neck and messing up his hair. I started laughing, breaking the silence that had enveloped us all.

"Get off!" Tala shoved him away, pretending to be grumpy. But he couldn't hide the wide grin that lit up his face.

Ian sprang into action, tackling Tala's waist, knocking them both to the ground. Spencer stood next to me and carefully ruffled my hair. He gave me one of his rare smiles and I smiled back, punching his arm lightly. This was our silent language. He said hello and I told him I missed him.

Bryan, momentarily distracted by Ian and Tala's tussling, finally stepped over to me. He put an arm around my shoulders and gloated, "So you guys are gonna break us outta here, huh?"

"That's the plan," I replied, leaning into his one-armed hug.

"Give up," Tala was saying, now pinning Ian to the floor, face-down, with the younger one's arm pulled behind his back. He wasn't hurting him, that much was as clear as the grins on their faces.

Pulling his arm from around me, suddenly Bryan jumped on Tala's back, hooting in amusement. "I got you, little buddy!" he hollered playfully to Ian.

Spencer put a hand on my shoulder, a kindness in his eyes. It was good to be together again.

Clearing his throat, the man who had stepped out before the boys finally interrupted us. The three messing around on the ground looked up. Bryan and Ian instantly stood up, leaving Tala lying there in surprise.

"Well, now that that's taken care of," he said, not unkindly. "My name is Dr. Kozlov. I've been treating these boys since they were brought here and I've been informed that you two are my newest patients." He gestured to myself and Tala, extending a hand. I eyed it like a snake that was about to bite, suddenly distrustful. Tala stood up and shook it firmly. The doctor looked at me expectantly for a minute, but then dropped his hand, looking unperturbed.

"I'll be the one evaluating you tomorrow and I'll be meeting with you all individually for the next year or so. If you wish, we can have a group session once a week as well," he seemed professional and laid-back at the same time.

"Well, Doc," Bryan responded, grinning sheepishly. "I don't know about the rest of them, but I really don't want group sessions."

He nodded. We all agreed. This was going to be difficult enough without having everybody else's eyes on us, no matter how close we are.

"Alright, then," he clapped his hands together loudly, startling me. "Tala and Jessy, you'll be the first ones meeting with me at nine o'clock tomorrow morning and then each of the boys after that. The nurse here will have you sign some paperwork, and then you're free to go."

He smiled at us and then went back through the door he had come in.

~~~Later~~~

Well the boys definitely seemed to like the new apartment. The first thing Bryan did was go take a nice, long shower "to wash that fucking hospital smell off." I decided to start making an early dinner. The remaining three grouped around the kitchen table, keeping me company.

In celebration, Ian happily opened a bottle of vodka. As we sat around, eating and talking and laughing, it suddenly occurred to me the difference I had noticed earlier. They weren't in the Abbey anymore. It was strange to see them outside of those walls. They seemed…lighter.

Sometimes, I would catch a glimpse of darkness pass over one of their faces, but it was quickly hidden with a shot of vodka (Ian and Spencer), a cocky smirk (Bryan), or a change in topics (Tala). We didn't speak of it. Not that first night. Not for a while.

We spoke about other things. Tala and I told them about Japan, about the Bladebreakers. Ian especially found it amusing that Tyson is a bottomless pit. I found his amusement to be funny since he ate almost as much as said bottomless pit that night. None of us said anything, of course. We didn't exactly get three square meals a day in that awful place.

Bryan and Ian regaled us with hilarious stories of some of the other patients in the hospital, funny shows they had seen on TV, and anything else they could think of that would make everyone laugh.

We stayed up late into the night drinking, probably consuming way too much alcohol. But we didn't care. We needed this. I needed this. At one point in the night, there was a lull in conversation. I leaned back in my chair, taking another swig of my beverage, and took a moment to drink in the moment. I had never seen them so relaxed before. So carefree.

Bryan nudged me with his elbow, pulling me back. Spencer smiled at me from across the table. I smiled back as Ian launched into another story. My eyes met Tala's, sitting next to Spencer. His happiness radiated off of him, walls momentarily let down.

*Family,* he said simply, reflecting my thoughts.