Chapter 33: Father and Son Forever

Diego and Toby then sits next to each other as they were both silent for a moment until Toby said

"...I know what you're thinking"

"What?" Diego asked in confusion.

"You're thinking that you regret even adopting me as your own son...you're regreting everything that we have being through...I think you're also don't wanna be with me anymore and wanna reject me and leave me alone forever" Toby sadly explained.

Diego worryingly looks at Toby for a moment as he suddenly then pulls the wolf into an embrace.

"D-Dad?" Toby said as he looks up at the sabre.

"Toby, Why? Why didn't you tell us about you and Victor? I was so worried about you Toby" Diego asked as he holds his adoptive son.

"I'm so sorry Dad...I tried to be brave like you...But I'm not...I'm so scared" Toby sighed.

"Scared of what? Becoming like Victor?" Diego asked.

"Yes...I'm his flesh and blood...I'm so scared that I'll end up like him and I'm scared that I'll hurt people" Toby replied.

"Toby..." Diego started.

"I was so scared that if I told the truth...You guys would see me as Victor and reject me and hate me" Toby continued.

"What? Toby why would you think we would ever do that to you?" Diego asked in alarmed.

"Because...In my nightmares...I dream that Victor haunts and taunts me and when I saw mum with the cubs, she didn't know and said I'm not her son...then you came and rejected me for being Victor's son and tried to destroy me...And I end up destroying you and the herd...That's why I never wanted to say anything...I'm so sorry Dad...I'm so very sorry!" Toby cracked up in tears as he buries his face in Diego's chest.

Diego was so surprised of what Toby just said.

He felt so sorry for the wolf that he holds Toby close and soothes him.

"Ssh...Calm down Toby...Everything will be alright" Diego comforted Toby.

"No...No it won't" Toby sobbed.

"Yes it will son...You'll see" Diego softly replied as he pats Toby's back.

"Victor was right...I'm nothing but a worthless pup...an accident" Toby sobbed.

Diego, alarmed by Toby saying the nasty comment by his own so called father, cups Toby's face and said

"Son! Don't you ever say that you're worthless or an accident! You hear me? You are not an accident!"

"But it's true" Toby sniffed.

"No! It's not! You are a fantastic wolf Toby and your mother and brother would very, very proud of you to be with a family like us and they would never EVER considering you as an accident" Diego replied.

"Dad...You don't know all the suffering I've been through! I had no childhood! My whole life was nothing but misery, pain, sadness and loneliness!" Toby cried.

Diego sadly watches Toby sobbed as the wolf continued

"When my mother died and my brother was forced to be cruel to me, I had no one who cares for me, No one! I was treated as though I was a piece of dirt and I was abused by Victor and they all laughed at me...I was so scared...so alone...so sad...with no one to love me or even care about me...Sometimes I wished that I was dead back then..."

Diego now felt really sorry for his adoptive son that he wishes to go back in time and stop the pain and suffering Toby went through his whole life.

Diego pulls Toby into another hug as he nuzzles him.

"D-Dad?" Toby sobbed.

"I'm so sorry Toby, So very, very sorry...I understand the pain and suffering that you have been through...And I will say this...You should have never deserved the pain, the suffering, the rejection and even the cruelty and loneliness that Victor and his worthless dogs put your family including you in" Diego said as tears went flowing down his eyes.

"Y-You mean that?" Toby sobbed.

"Yes Toby...Listen to me, I love you just like I love your mother...You're my son and I will never EVER abandon you or hate you or even dare to hurt you! You're a part of my life and soul and so is the same with your adoptive mother" Diego comforted as he looks at his adoptive son.

Toby felt so happy now he knows that adoptive son would never hate him or hurt him or even reject him. He is Diego and Shira's son and they love him no matter what.

"You have no idea how much that means to me Dad! Thank you so much! You're best and only father I've ever had in my life! You and this herd have always been there for me! You and Mum are everything in my life as well...I love you dad! I love you so much" Toby happily sobbed as he holds Diego close to him.

Diego smiled at Toby and holds him close as well as he softly replied

"I love you son. I love you so much" and they nuzzled each other as they still hold their embrace.

Toby and Diego knew that no matter what happens, Toby and Diego will always be father and son forever.

As Diego and Toby headed back to the others, Sid and the others sees Toby and goes to hug him.

"Hey guys" Toby chuckled.

"Toby, We want you to know that we love you and we would never abandon you or hate you" said Sid.

"We love you so much Toby, We don't care if you are the bad wolf's daddy, I still love you as though you are my big brother" Rosy assured as she kisses Toby on the forehead.

"You puppy wuppy are good ham and cheese to me!" Granny happily said.

"Thank you guys! That means a lot to me" Toby thanked as he returned the hug.

Manny then walks up to Toby as the wolf frightfully looks at the mammoth.

"M-Manny?" Toby stuttered.

Manny looks at Toby as Diego then stands by his side and looks at Manny seriously.

"Toby...We've known each other for six whole years and I will admit that both of us got off the wrong foot back then but then after you saved my daughter's boyfriend life that day, I then saw you as a kind and caring wolf who just wants to have a family who cares" Manny started.

"So...what are you trying to say Manny?" Toby asked.

"You're maybe thinking that I'll be angry with you and kick you out of the herd right?" Manny asked.

"To be honest...yes..." Toby sadly nodded.

"I'm not gonna do that Toby" Manny replied.

Toby and the others looked at Manny surprisingly as Toby gasped.

"Y-You mean that?"

"Toby, You maybe Victor's son but I will never ever kick you out, You're part of my family and after knowing you all these years, I'm very proud to say that you are not like Victor" Manny replied.

Toby smiles at Manny and replies

"Thank you Manny! Thank you so much!"

Manny then hugs Toby with his trunk as the wolf hugs him back.

When Manny puts the wolf down, Toby looks at the others who are smiling as he replied.

"And thank you all, I feel a lot better now that I know you guys still love me no matter what"

"Yes Toby and we will always care for you" said Diego as he pats Toby on the back.

"Thanks Dad" said Toby.

Soon Toby sees Elisa smiling at him with tears as he walks up to her and nuzzles her.

"Elisa?" Toby softly said.

"Yes" The female wolf happily sniffed.

"I wanna talk to you" said Toby.

"OK" Elisa replied.

Soon the two wolves went into that second empty cave as the group happily watches them go.

"Is he gonna be OK Diego?" Sid asked.

"Yes Sid. He's gonna be fine" Diego replied as he smiles at the sloth.

AWW! Toby and Diego are very great father and son! :D

And the herd still loves Toby no matter what?

Now Elisa and Toby are having a moment alone

What happens next?

Stay tune to find out! ;)