FLASH FORWARD: FIVE YEARS. FATHER'S DAY

Four-year-old Raphael stared up at the model airplane on the top shelf of Sean's bookshelf, his golden eyes wide in fascination and thought, I wanna play with it. His brothers had each been given an Eitech Construction set as Christmas presents from Casey and April. Raphael, being deemed too young, even though, he was only three and two years younger than the others, had received a stuffed bear toy, which he'd immediately kicked in frustration and rage, incensed he was being treated like a baby. The airplane, which Leo had helped Sean construct, had a wingspan of 18 inches, a length of 17. 5 inches, a height of 4.5 inches to destinations all over the world and a stand that provided a perfect parking spot for it. It was built of steel and Raphael thought it the best thing ever. Raphael was forbidden from playing with his brothers' toys, because he had a nasty habit of being too rough and he always ended up breaking them. The other brothers hid their airplanes away, but Sean had chosen not to, proudly displaying it. His brothers were watching TV, and seeing them distracted, Raphael had sneaked into the quads' room.

Raphael climbed onto a chair and reached up for the airplane, but he was too short. He frowned, wrinkling his forehead in thought and said, "How am I gonna get it?" An idea came to him, and after picking up Noah's baseball bat, he stood up on the chair and poked the airplane closer until it fell off the shell and landed on the ground. Climbing down off of the chair, a thrilled Raphael discarded the baseball bat and picked up the plane. Yay. I have it, he thought, his golden eyes shining, as he ran his fingers over it. His joy turned to dismay when he saw that the fall had caused one of the wings to break off. Sean's gonna kill me, he thought. What am I gonna do?

Raphael heard footsteps and quickly hid the plane behind his back. "What are you doing in my room, Raphie?" Sean demanded. "You know you're not allowed in here unless we say."

"Nothin'," Raphael muttered and shuffled his feet nervously.

"Don't believe you. What have you got behind your back?"

"Nothin'."

Disbelieving him, Sean studied his room, checking that everything was in place, and not seeing his plane, he snapped, "You have my plane don't you, Raphie? Give it to me now!"

His lower lip quivering and his eyes brimming with tears, Raphael handed over the plane and said, "I didn't mean ta break it. Steel ain't supposed ta break. I just wanted ta play with it."

"Naughty Raphie," Noah piped up, entering the room, flanked by the other boys. They'd heard the arguing and had come to investigate.

"I told you no. I worked so hard on it and you broke it. How could you, Raphie?" Sean yelled. "You're a bad kid and I don't…You're not my brother anymore and I hate you!"

Tears ran down Raphael's cheeks, as he ran out of the room and, not looking where he was going, he collided with Mona, who'd been woken by the yelling. "Whoa," she said. "What's wrong, Raphie? Stop."

"Mommy, I broke Sean's plane and he's mad at me," Raphael wailed.

"Why did you do that, baby?"

"I just wanted ta play with it and I didn't mean ta. And he said he hates me and I'm not his brother no more."

"There, there, Raphie," Mona said, picking him up and hugging him tightly. "It's okay. Sean was just mad and didn't mean it. He still loves you."

"Really?" Raphael asked, golden eyes gazing intently into her brown ones.

"Yes, my baby. People often say things they don't mean when they're mad and it's not the end of the world. We can get some glue to fix his plane and if that doesn't work, I'll buy him a new one, okay? Stop crying, my love."

Raphael sniffled and said, "When's Daddy gonna get back?"

"Later this afternoon, my love. Why don't we get some cookies and milk? That always makes me feel better."

"Okay, Mommy," Raphael said and wiped the tears away with the back of his hand.

"Love you, sweetheart. Everything's going to be okay," Mona said, and went into the kitchen.

XXX

Meanwhile, Sean was talking to the others. "I'm so sick of Raphie breaking our toys. We need to teach him a lesson."

"I'm sure he's sorry," Raz said. "Let it go, Sean."

"I will not! I worked so hard on this. Raz, if you don't want to be a part of it, leave now. But he also broke your toys and he'll continue doing so unless he's taught a lesson."

"As long as he's not hurt," Kane said. "He won't be, will he?"

"No," Sean said. "Daddy takes pills when he can't sleep, so we get some, put it in Raphie's milk and when he's asleep, we paint his shell pink and put make up on him. And take a photo! Raphie will be so embarrassed and he'll never play with our stuff again. See, Raz, he won't get hurt. So, who's in?"

"I guess he does deserve it," Raz said. "You have my vote."

The other boys also consented and Sean beamed. "I'll get the pills. This is going to be so much fun."

XXXX

A short time later, Sean had the pills, which were hidden in his obi, and he joined his brothers, who were now in the kitchen, also having milk and cookies. "Raphael's sorry about earlier, Sean," Mona said. "He didn't mean to break it and I'll help you fix your plane and if that doesn't work, I'll buy you a new one."

"Yeah. I'm sorry, Sean," Raphael said. "Didn't mean ta."

"It's okay. Mommy will fix it. Don't worry. Just don't touch my stuff again."

"I won't. Are we still brothers?"

"Of course, Raphie. I was just mad."

Raphael beamed and said, "I promise I'll never touch yer stuff again."

Mona smiled at the brothers making peace, but before she could comment, her phone rang and she said, "I have to take this. Can you boys play nicely for a while? If you need anything, Grandpa's in his bedroom."

"Yes, Mommy," Kane piped up.

"Good boys."

Noah left the room and pushed a chair against Mona's bedroom door, so she was barricaded in and then he returned to the kitchen.

"Hey, Raphie, want some more milk?" Kane asked, looking at his empty cup.

"Please."

Kane picked up the milk carton on the table, poured him another cup and said, "Hey, look, there's a bug over there!"

Raphael shrieked in terror, his eyes wide in panic, and dove under the table. While he was distracted, Sean crushed four tablets with a spoon and placed the powder into the cup. "It's gone, Raphie," Raz said. "Just a spider."

"Ya sure?" Raphael asked, trembling.

"Yeah," Noah said. "You're safe."

Stifling their giggles, the brothers watched as Raphael sat up and anxiously glanced around, checking that the bug was indeed gone. Then, reassured, Raphael picked up his cup and slowly drank the milk down.

"I feel funny," Raphael announced a few minutes later, his head fuzzy. "Tired."

"Let's get you to bed, Raphie," Noah said, and chuckled. "Go get the paints, guys."

XXX

Kane got the paints, while the others dragged Raphael to his bedroom. Then, they swiftly painted the now passed out Raphael's shell bright pink with yellow hearts. Giggling, Sean grabbed a tube of Mona's lipstick, also bright pink, that'd he'd stolen to prank his brothers, and smeared Raphael's lips with it.

"He's so pretty," Kane said and laughed.

"You sure he's okay?" Raz asked.

"He's just sleeping," Noah said. "He'll be fine. Let me do his cheeks." Noah took the lipstick and drew pink hearts on Raphael's cheeks. Then, the boys stood back and surveyed their handiwork. It had taken ten minutes to do everything.

"Photo time," Kane said.

Before anyone could comment, Leo's voice rang out. "Boys, I'm home."

"Daddy's home," Noah said fearfully.

"He's gonna be mad," Kane said.

"We were just playing," Sean said. "He'll think it funny. Wake up, Raphie. Quick. Daddy's home. Raphie?"

"Boys!" Leo called again.

"I don't think he's asleep," Noah said worriedly. "What if he's dead?"

XXX

Mona, now off the phone, demanded to be let out of the bedroom. "Who locked you in there, Mona?" Leo asked, pushing back the chair and letting her out.

"Must have been one of the kids as a joke."

"Not funny. I'm going to talk to them!" Leo said crossly, and followed by Mona, went in search of them.

XXX

Finding his sons in Raphael's bedroom, Leo said, "There you are. I was looking for you."

"Raphie's dead!" Raz said, tears streaming down his cheeks. "He won't wake up, Daddy."

"What happened?" Mona asked.

Leo knelt down by Raphael's prone body, taking in his "makeover", and checked his pulse. "Shit. Nothing." Leo began to frantically perform CPR, praying it worked.

"Is he dead?" Sean asked. "My fault."

Leo didn't answer and pressed down on Raphael's tiny body, his own heart hammering and dread bubbling in his belly at the thought of losing his precious boy. What could have happened for this to happen to Raphael?"

Five minutes later, Raphael opened his eyes and said weakly, "Daddy?"

"I'm here, baby," Leo said, and planted a kiss on his cheek. "Daddy's here. You're going to be all right, my sweet boy. Let's get you in bed, okay, but I don't want you to fall asleep. Try to stay awake, okay?"

"Okay, Daddy," Raphael said, as Leo picked him up. "I'm glad yer here, Daddy. I missed ya."

Leo placed Raphael into his bed and covered him up. Then, leaving Mona by his bedside, he went over to the other boys and furiously demanded, his arms crossed and his sapphire eyes stony, "What happened to Raphie? And why is he made up like a girl? You have some explaining to do."

"It was Sean's idea," Noah said. "But we all agreed."

"To kill your brother?" Leo asked crossly.

Five sets of eyes gazed up at him and Sean said tearfully, "No. Raphie broke my plane and I was mad, so I took your sleeping pills and put them in his milk. I hoped he'd fall asleep and we could make him look like a girl to teach him a lesson, so he'd stop breaking and touching our stuff. We didn't know that would happen, Daddy. I'm sorry."

"You should be," Leo hissed, secretly resolving to hide his pills away and also to get child proof bottles. "He nearly died. You're all grounded. No TV, no video games and computer for a week and you can go to bed early. Straight after supper."

"Yes, Daddy," the brothers said in unison.

"Is Raphie going to be okay, Daddy?" Raz asked.

"I hope so. Now, get out of my sight."

The boys fled and Leo went to Raphael's bedside and said, "Hey, my darling boy. How are you feelin?"

"Tired, Daddy."

"I know, my sweetheart, but you mustn't sleep now. Daddy's going to sit and talk to you."

"Daddy's it's Father's Day. I didn't give ya my present yet."

Leo grabbed a couple of tissues and blotted off Mona's lipstick from Raphael's lips. Then he said, "Yes, you did."

"I did?"

"You. You're the best gift, my special boy. I couldn't have asked for a more wonderful son. I love you, Raphie."

"And I love you too, Raphael," Mona said.

Raphael smiled and said, "I love ya too, Daddy and Mommy."

The trio chatted until Leo deemed it was safe for Raphael to sleep. Then, watching Raphael's little plastron rise and fall, as he slept, Leo thought, I'm so grateful he's all right. I don't know what I'd do without my miracle baby, the light of my love. I love all of my babies, but if I have to be honest, I love him most and his death would have killed me. Sleep well, my angel, Raphie, and know that Daddy loves you so very much