Chapter 20

Jonah sat down on Eric's knee, drawing a dinosaur fort that he wanted built at the new house. He held up the paper and showed it to Eric. "There. I'm done!"

"That's great, buddy," Eric commented, noting that the house was small, but the dinosaur fort looked like a mansion.

"Are you going to put that with your blueprints," he gestured to the other papers scattered about the table.

Ana's brothers turned to eye him out, wondering what he would say. They should have already known his answer though. Without missing a beat, Eric smiled and nodded. "Of course, I am. I'm going to speak to the contractor about making this one of his top priorities."

"Jonah," Ana called out from the backyard where she was with Hannah.

"Thank you, daddy," Jonah said as he climbed down from Eric's knee and hurried towards the back door. "I'm coming, mommy!"

"You spoil him," Jordan smiled.

Eric shrugged nonchalantly as he turned back to the table. All of Ana's brothers were here in her kitchen. It was a tight squeeze, but they made everything fit. Jordan came in to Amity the day after Jonathan. And after Ana and Eric had fed Tobias and seen him off, they came back to her house the same time Joshua had brought Jordan in from the airport. Of course, it was a shock that only Jonathan was in the kitchen. Jack and Hannah had talked the night before and fallen off to sleep on the back-porch swing.

Eric remembered Ana's smug expression when she went back there to wake Jack up.

Jordan was more relaxed than the rest of them. In fact, Jordan and Joshua were probably similar in personalities. They both were pranksters and humorous guys. But when it came to Jonah and Ana - they would do anything for family. Edward had also come down to Amity. His main concern was that Tobias had come looking for Eric at their mother's house.

"That's what prompted a drive down to Amity," Eric looked at his brother.

"I wanted to make sure you didn't kill the guy," Edward teased.

"Daddy wouldn't kill anyone," Jonah argued. "Unless it was a bad guy."

"And if he hated dinosaurs," Edward added, remembering his night being drilled by the dinosaur-loving boy.

Jonah nodded profusely until Ana had come around the corner. "No one is hurting anyone," she pointed to all of them, including her own brothers. "Hi Edward, are you staying for lunch, too?"

He did end up staying for lunch. And after meeting Ana's brothers, Eric found out that Jordan and Edward actually had met each other a few times for work. They worked for separate companies but in the same field, so they got along quickly. What surprised Eric the most was that Edward was quickly accepted by Ana's brothers. Jensen - Ana's twin - was there as well and was still on the fence about Eric. He had the most questions to ask about the contract.

"My lawyer drew it up," Jonathan sighed. "And I got Mr. Kang to fill out all the correct paperwork."

"If Jonathan is on it, that means every single 'i' has been dotted and every single 't' has been crossed," Jack patted Jensen's shoulders.

"And JoyAnna is okay with this," Jensen asked as every head turned towards Eric.

He wanted to saw that he laid down the law, put his foot down. But he knew that wasn't what he did and that wasn't how it went. So instead, he went for the truth.

"She wasn't at first. But we talked it over and she's okay with it if the rest of you agree," Eric replied. They looked at him in confusion. "Ana wants to make sure that the rest of her family approves."

And that had sealed the day. Eric could see that it wasn't just about Eric and Ana learning to trust one another. It was also about Ana and her brothers learning to trust each other, too. Eric knew it all too well. After a time, you had to learn to let your siblings go, let them make mistakes and figure out how to work things out on their own. Edward seemed to have given Eric a small understanding nod as well.

Of course, you loved your brothers and sisters, you didn't want them to get hurt. But you couldn't protect them from everything, just be there for them when they fall and help them stand back up.

"I'm not dad," Jonathan said suddenly, drawing everyone's attention. "I tried to be. I realized that about you too Eric," he glanced up at him. "We do everything to make sure that they're okay. But at some point, we need to learn to let the bird use its own wings. And seeing you with my sister and her son, what you just did for him right now, to see that you love JoyAnna and Jonah - I'll be the first to say that I trust you with my sister and my nephew. And though it's not really a big deal, you've got my approval."

Eric nodded and reached over with his hand. "You're Ana's oldest brother. I view your approval just as important as she does."

Jonathan reached over and shook Eric's hand. After nods of agreement from everyone else, Eric continued the meeting.

"Now that I've got the most important blueprint," he held up Jonah's drawing as they all chuckled. "Did you folks speak with the bank?"

"The accountant is being reluctant in releasing the price," Jack answered. "But with your funds and our collected pool," he glanced at his brothers. "There's more than enough for us to buy back our parent's land and pay off the debt owed on it. We might even have enough left over."

"For the dinosaur fort, right," Jensen teased.

"I think I know a couple officers who wouldn't mind helping with that build," Eric looked over at Joshua.

"As long as my sister cooks them dinner, they'll do it. Supply the beer," Joshua snapped his fingers, "and then that's a guarantee we'll help build one killer ass fort."

"No swearing," Ana shouted from the outside.

"Dude, she's like mom with that supersonic hearing," Jordan shook his head.

"And the cabin," Eric inquired. "I spoke it over with Jonathan and Jack. You folks listed your conditions. I had a couple of my own. One of them was regarding the cabin on the northern side of the property. I think it's about three hundred yards from the main house."

"Our grandparents lived in there when our family kept growing," Jensen glanced around the table.

Jack cleared his throat and leaned forward. "Eric wanted to open the place for his mother to live in."

"What," Edward practically shouted. He shifted in his seat when a few of them turned to look at him. "Mom living in Amity? Eric, did you consult her?"

"I'm sure she wouldn't mind living in Abnegation," Eric answered, knowing full well that that was the best place to use when speaking to his brother. "As long as mom is living nearby to one of us, where someone could visit her on a daily basis - I think that's what she needs right now. She's lonely in that small apartment."

Edward nodded, slowly coming to grasps with the concept of having their mother live in Amity. "Mom always wanted a garden," he shrugged. "And your hours are more conducive to keeping an eye on her."

"Not to mention, I'm sure you've taken Jonah into account," Jack added. "Hannah was telling me that Jonah asked about his grandparents the other day."

"And what else did your girlfriend tell you," Joshua teased.

"What are we, twelve," Jack eyed out his youngest brother. "I know that you accepted Jonah calling you 'daddy'. But I also know that your brother wasn't too fond of it at first," Jack glanced at Edward.

Edward just simply shrugged. He knew better than to divulge Eric's past with people. And given the way that Ana's brothers were dancing around the subject - it was obvious that Ana hadn't told them either about meeting Tobias last night. Eric would end up explaining it one day - perhaps to Jonathan and Jack. He didn't need the rest of them to know about it just yet.

"But with your mother being around Jonah so much, he might end up calling her 'grandma'," Jack turned back to him. "I understand she already has a grandchild and she may also - like Edward - not agree to you and JoyAnna being so close, to you taking in Jonah as though he were your own. And I don't want my nephew hurt by another adult figure. His only living grandparent doesn't take an interest in him as is. And if your mother is going to be living at our grandparent's cabin..."

"I'll talk to my mom about it. She actually knows that I'm with your sister. And Edward," Eric shot a glare his brother's way, "already broached the subject of Jonah calling me 'daddy' without mom. She has her concerns, but I believe she won't be hostile. Like me, I think she'll come to love both Ana and Jonah."

"I think Jack is right," Jordan leaned back. "Other than how your mom might treat Jonah and Ana, I see no cause for alarm with her living there at the cabin. If our parents were," he paused and the mood at the table seemed to shift.

Jonathan quickly cleared his throat. "So, are we all in agreement about Eric's terms?"

"No matter what happens, JoyAnna and Jonah should still live in our house," Jensen quickly interjected.

Eric was slightly bothered by the fact that some of Ana's brothers were questioning his mother and any future arguments that might take place. But they had call for concern. Eric hadn't known that Eric Carter's mother didn't like Jonah. He glanced down at the child's blueprint and thought to himself, who wouldn't like Jonah? The boy was adorable, smart and caring. He also had that mean streak to him whenever someone talked bad about his mother.

"I have that listed," Jonathan stated, returning Eric's thoughts back to the conversation at hand. "Even if," he glanced Eric's way, "even if JoyAnna and Eric are no longer together, JoyAnna and Jonah will still be able to live there. That also applies to us," he pointed to one of the pages in the contract, "Eric's mother will still be able to live in the cabin. We won't kick her out the same as he wouldn't kick out JoyAnna."

"We're putting an awful lot of faith in whether or not Eric and JoyAnna's relationship works," Jensen folded his arms over his chest.

"I'll sign," Edward stated. Eric turned and narrowed his eyes at his brother.

"You're not part of the contract," Jordan pointed out.

"True, but that's how much faith I have in my brother and his love for your sister and her son," Edward stated. "And I know the last time I was here, I was skeptical about it, but now I know," he smiled at his brother. "My brother - he'd do anything for Ana."

"So," Ana prodded.

"So, what," Hannah questioned.

"We've been sitting out here for a good half an hour."

"I know. I wonder if they're alright in there," Hannah turned back around.

"I wasn't talking about the contract. I know Jonathan has got that handled, he's crossed every 't' and dotted every 'i'. What I was talking about was you and Jack," Ana hit Hannah's shoulder softly, teasingly.

"Jonah is nearby."

Ana shook her head and looked out towards the yard. "Jonah is playing in his fort. Believe me, he won't come out of there any time soon. So, tell me," she bumped her side against Hannah's. "You know I always wondered why my brothers were still single. I mean," she paused and shook her head. "They're great guys. A little overbearing, but I think that's just because of me and everything that we went through."

That was the truth for sure, Ana thought.

She had briefly remembered that even when their mother was alive, Jonathan and Jack were always running amuck in town. There was no shortage of trouble that the Summers' boys wouldn't get themselves into. It only got worse when Jordan had gotten his license. JoyAnna and Jensen had just started high school when that happened so naturally, it was pretty cool to hang out with a Senior who could drive.

Reminiscing about those days made her miss her father the most. He would scold them for anything they had done, but he'd laugh about it later and relate a story of when he had done the same thing. She sighed and turned to look at the door, wondering if Eric was going to ask about his mom. Her and her brothers still hurt every now and then when they thought about their father. Ana was certain that Eric's mom, Edward and the rest of their siblings often thought of their father also.

"The love is still there, JoyAnna," Hannah said as she looked out into the back yard. "We still care so deeply about each other. But it happened so long ago, five years ago actually," she tried her best to smile. "It's something that we can't fix overnight."

Ana reached out and comfortingly touched Hannah's hand as the older of the two smiled in response. Ana's heart went out to Hannah. She could only imagine the sadness of being engaged to your first love only to have that first love tell you that he had to give you up and be with his family.

"We argued so much back then because I felt that I could be there for him, for all of them, for you," Hannah wiped the tears forming under her eyes. "Jonathan had decided that it was best that Jack - and possibly Jordan too - sacrifice their wants for the needs of the family. The second I arrived, I had it out with Jonathan too, before talking to Jack," she laughed lightly as did Ana - imaging Hannah and Jonathan arguing.

"I wanted to talk to Jonathan about that when he showed up last night, but then that thing with Eric happened," Ana shook her head.

"Jonathan admitted that he was in the wrong. But he thought that was what was best for everyone so that he and Jack could focus on all of you."

"Hannah," Ana began.

Hannah shook her head and patted Ana's hand. "Jonathan and I will always have that beef, I think. Did I tell you that at one time, I went out on a date with him?" That shocked Ana. "A couple dates actually," she said which only increased Ana's surprise. "But I was a freshman and he was a Junior. He started chasing other skirts in school. Your brother was quite the player."

"Don't even try to put that image in my head, Hannah. That's just wrong." Ana shook her head, trying not to imagine Jonathan - 'uptight and holier than thou' Jonathan - as having the ability to flirt.

"Well, he was. There was many a girl that would swoon over him. You said so yourself, your brothers are great guys."

"Yeah, but not," Ana denied. "No, don't mention that again to me."

"I won't tell you then that Jack was the better kisser."

"Hannah Fields! That is just," Ana pretended to sing as she put her hands over her ears.

These were her brothers.

Hannah nudged Ana playfully. "In all seriousness, Jack wasn't one for playing the field. He was kinder, thoughtful, sensitive and patient with me. And I found myself more drawn to him as time went by. When Jack asked me to be his girlfriend, I was happier than a June bride on her wedding day. Jackson Summers wanted to be my boyfriend," she said it with a smile on her face. "Maybe Jonathan felt like Jack and I had betrayed him, but I was never Jonathan's girl. And now that I think about it, I'm glad that Jack was the one who broke my heart and who wants to put it back together again. He needs me the same way I need him."

For a brief moment, Ana thought that it was kind of like her relationship with Eric and her husband. There was also a first in her life, but it was the second that she fell in love with. She opened her mouth to say something but was interrupted by a hand knocking on the doorway behind them.

She turned around to see Edward standing there.

Despite their rough beginning, something told her that they would get along just fine. Meeting Tobias - along with the discussion she had with Jack - helped her to see that others, especially their siblings, felt the need to protect one another. Understanding that, it made her a little sympathetic to Edward's defensive stance.

Although if he ever called her son a brat again, she'd have to pull a page out of her mother's book and take Edward down a notch.

"The guys are thinking of going out to eat, sort of a pre-celebration," Edward informed them.

"They signed the papers," Ana asked.

Jonathan exited then and smiled at her. "We're just waiting for one more signature," he said, handing her a pen.

There must be some mistake. She was under the impression that the contract was between her brothers and Eric. "What is that," she questioned, looking at the pen. If they were waiting for her to sign it, then they better think again.

"Mom and Dad's land is over a hundred acres, JoyAnna. If we ever decide to split it there's more than enough for each one of us to have our own piece of land. We all think that," he held up the pen again, "you should have a share in it too." He smiled, "especially since you're working and all."

Ana couldn't help it, she leapt off the porch swing causing Hannah to shriek as it moved her back and forth suddenly. Ana threw her arms around Jonathan's neck, hugging him tightly before running into the house with the pen.

"Where do I sign?"

Everyone laughed at her before Eric moved the contract around to gesture to where she needed to place her name. There it was in ink - she would be one of the property owners. She would own a piece of their parent's land, not just live there but own it. She could imagine looking at the roses, driving out to where the pigs were kept. Oh, the pigs, she remembered. They would have to get a few animals to live on the property. That meant building a fence and driving on the ATV to check that everything was running smoothly. And then there was the river that ran through on the east side of the land.

"Aren't those just beautiful," mother knelt down on the left side of her as she sat on the wet rock.

"Not as beautiful as my two ladies right here," father walked through the low-flowing stream with another bouquet of wildflowers.

JoyAnna smiled and kicked her feet on the water, watching it splash at her parents.

"Hey, you," mother dipped her hand in the cool stream and sprinkled some water in JoyAnna's direction.

And before she knew it, all three of them were soaking wet in the knee-deep stream of fresh water, laughing and hugging each other. Moments like these were rare, especially when you had to share mom and dad with five brothers. But they always made time for their children individually. Seeing her father and mother smile, she turned into their arms and hugged them tightly.

"I love you, mom. Love you, daddy."

"JoyAnna?"

Ana took a step back and blinked her eyes, causing a tear to fall down.

"Are you okay," Jensen asked.

"Yeah, I was just remembering when I was three years old. Mom and dad took me to the stream close to the mountainside," she explained as Jack turned to Eric.

"That was JoyAnna's spot because Dad would always pick the wildflowers that grew over there for her," Jack added.

"It's why she earned the nickname 'wildflower'," Jordan smiled at her.

"I was my daddy's little wildflower," she smiled before shaking her head once more and returning to sign the paper. "I'm going back there. We're going back there," she emphasized and then handed the signed document to Jonathan.

Eric walked to her, pulling Ana to his side. She sighed in his hold, reveling in the safety and contentment it provided - along with the promise of a nice future. Her head moved then to look up at him and he smiled down at her.

"Will you show me the wildflowers?"

"I'll show you more than that," she whispered. "Thank you, Eric. Thank you for everything."