Hi Guys! Well I'm back and determined to finish this story for you. Thank you to everyone recently who has been giving me a push to finish this. I hope that everyone who has read this from the start will follow this story to the end :) The end is near. I promise! haha. Anyway enjoy and I am so very sorry for making you wait so long.

Chapter 38

The silence that followed was almost deafening. A pin being dropped could have been heard throughout the room as everyone stared at the new addition. Lucy snuck a glance at Shane to see that he currently held no emotion on his face. Caitlyn felt Nate take hold of her hand and pull her closer to him.

"Who is that?" she whispered.

"That's Shane's older brother Tyson. No one has seen him in a while"

"That explains why everything feels so awkward" Caitlyn said and she looked up to see Nate nodding while never taking his eyes off Tyson.

"I'm positive that this isn't how you greet family for christmas" Tyson said as he took a couple of steps forward.

"Since when were you considering yourself family?" Shane asked, finally speaking up.

"Do we not have the same mom?" Tyson asked. "Are we not related by blood?"

"You are no brother of mine" Shane said in an even voice.

"I know that. I've watched the interviews" replied Tyson. "Why would you lie about me like that? To an entire country"

"Because like it or not, I have been trying very hard to forget about you. You left without telling us where you were. Mom and I searched and searched but every trace of you seemed to just disappear. I couldn't believe that you could just leave us like that and I was so angry that I just denied having any family apart from mom."

"And you kicked me out like that?" Tyson asked as he walked further into the room.

"You were able to just kick us out like that?" Shane challenged.

"I left because I was disappointing you and mom"

"And you thought that we wouldn't want any contact from you at all? Mom was worried sick. She had no idea if something had happened to you, if you were still alive or even still in the country!"

"I'm sorry alright! That's why I came back. I wanted to apologise to you and mom for running like that. I've hated my life away from you guys but I couldn't bear returning and being turned away. I know I've made stupid decisions in my life and running away was by far the biggest one. Can you please forgive me?" Tyson asked, his voice sounding genuine. Shane took a deep breath. He looked away from his brother and sighed.

"I can't deal with this right now" Shane whispered before walking around Tyson and leaving the room. Tyson watched as his younger brother walked away from him.

"I knew it was a long shot anyway" Tyson said as everyone in the room looked at him. Mitchie stood there not knowing what to do or being able to process what had just happened. Lucy stood up and walked over to her son. She looked at him a moment before bringing him into her embrace.

"How I've missed you" she whispered. Tyson smiled as he hugged his mom back.

"I've missed you too"

"Shane just needs some time" Lucy said as she pulled back. "He hasn't dealt very well with you not being here."

"I've gathered that"

"Well it is Christmas. Shane may want to restart everything with you" Tyson smiled as his mom's attempt to cheer him up.

"Well I'm not leaving until I've gotten his forgiveness" Tyson said strongly. Nate and Jason smiled before eventually moving to say hello. Caitlyn moved over to Mitchie's side and the two watched everything unfold.

"Well this has been exciting" Caitlyn whispered to Mitchie. Mitchie nodded.

"I have no idea what I was expecting today but this was nowhere near what I thought" Mitchie said with a small laugh.

"Mitchie?" Lucy called. Mitchie looked up and saw Lucy walking over to her.

"Yes?"

"Can you go and check on Shane for me? See if you can talk some sense into him?" Lucy asked. Mitchie looked at her.

"Oh...um...I just thought that I should stay out of this." Mitchie stammered over her words. She only had a brief background on what had happened and was content to stay out of the families way.

"Nonsense" Lucy said. "You are part of Shane's life and right now you are probably the only person who can make him see reason. Even Nate and Jason wouldn't be able to get through to him" Mitchie looked over at Nate and Jason and saw them nodding.

"It's true" Jason said. "We've tried to tell Shane to not give up on his brother but he just won't listen to us"

"He may just listen to you though" Nate said.

"But what if it makes him angry or annoyed?" Mitchie asked.

"Then he will have me to answer to" Lucy said firmly. She sighed when she saw Mitchie's face. "Just try and talk to him, please?" Mitchie hesitated, took a deep breath and nodded.

"I guess I can try and talk to him" she said. Lucy smiled.

"He's most likely out the back"

"Okay" Mitchie said as she made her way out of the room. She spared a glance at Tyson and was not expecting to see him looking at her. He gave her a small smile before she disappeared out the door.

"Who is that?" Tyson asked once Mitchie had left the room.

"You could almost say Shane's girlfriend" Jason said with a smile. Tyson raised an eyebrow

"Almost girlfriend?" he asked.

"Well they haven't known each other very long and he hasn't actually asked her yet" Jason answered.

"How did they meet?" Tyson asked, his eyes settling on Caitlyn. "And who are you?" Caitlyn, Nate and Jason smiled at each other.

"Well it started with this dare" Caitlyn started and everyone in the room made themselves comfortable as Caitlyn launched into the story.

Mitchie walked down the hallway and came to a stop at the door. She looked out the window to see Shane sitting on the porch steps. Taking a deep breath, Mitchie opened the door and walked over to Shane.

"I'm not in the mood for company" Shane said, not even glancing back to see who had come out.

"Sor...sorry" Mitchie mumbled before she turned around to walk back inside. Shane turned around and saw Mitchie.

"Mitchie wait" he said. Mitchie stopped and looked at him. "Stay?" he asked.

"Are you sure?" Mitchie asked. Shane nodded and Mitchie came and sat down beside him. They sat in silence for a few minutes before Shane sighed.

"I don't know what to do" he said. Mitchie smiled sadly at him. "I mean I'm so angry with him but he's actually come home and now asking for forgiveness. I never thought I would see him again and now he's here. We're in the same house again"

"You have a chance to change things around Shane."

"But what if I don't want things to change?"

"I think you're just comfortable in your life now. Change never hurt anyone" Mitchie said with a smile.

"I know it's just that, I always rehearsed in my mind what I would say to Tyson if he ever returned. I didn't count it would happen so soon"

"But it has happened and you have the chance to show your brother the man that you have become"

"But I don't want to" Shane whined. Mitchie laughed softly at him.

"Now you are just being stubborn"

"It makes me who I am" Shane said with a smile. He stood up with a sigh and extended his hand to Mitchie. "Shall we do this?"

"Let's" Mitchie said as she placed her hand in Shane's. They both started to walk into the house when Shane stopped walking and gently tugged on Mitchie's hand.

"Thank you" Shane said as he gazed at Mitchie. Mitchie smiled as a faint blush covered her cheeks.

"It was nothing" Mitchie said softly.

"I'm serious. I would have completely disregarded my brother if it hadn't been for you"

"I'm sure you would have gotten around to it eventually" Mitchie replied. Shane smiled at her as he stepped forward and took hold of her hands.

"Not without your help Mitch" Shane said. "You've completed changed my life around and I don't know how I can ever thank you for that. I know that there is probably no point in asking you but," Shane paused in his sentence to look at Mitchie. She was looking up at him with a smile on her face as if she knew what he was about to ask her. A smirk crossed Shane's face.

"I wanted to know if you would be willing to grab me a drink?" The surprised look that crossed Mitchie's face caused Shane to erupt in laughter. Mitchie shook her head.

"You jerk" she said as she laughed along with Shane. Taking a deep breath, Shane stopped laughing and smiled at Mitchie.

"Yes, but I am apparently your jerk" Shane said. He stepped forward and leaned his forehead against Mitchie's. "Be my girlfriend?" Mitchie hesitated a moment before she opened her mouth.

"I…"

"I know this is all new for you so we'll continue to take it slowly but I want you to be mine Mitchie." Shane interrupted. "We've only known each other for a few weeks but I honestly can't imagine my life without you in it now. I want to erase those memories you have from school and treat you like you deserve to be treated. I want to spoil you and love you and show everyone how lucky I am to have someone like you by my side. Will you be my girlfriend?" he asked again. Mitchie stared at Shane and couldn't help the smile that lit up her face.

"You want to love me?" she asked timidly. Shane leaned forward and pressed a gentle kiss upon Mitchie's lips.

"That I do" Shane replied. "So what do you say? Do you think you could let someone like me into your heart?"

"I don't think there's any way that I could refuse. You've already found a place in there Shane" Mitchie said. "So my answer is yes" The ending of the sentence came out as a squeal as Shane lifted Mitchie into the air and twirled her around. Still holding Mitchie in his arms, Shane kissed her again. Mitchie brought her hands up to cup Shane's face as she smiled into the kiss. Breaking apart Shane set Mitchie back on the ground.

"Your mom's going to see this coming" Mitchie said with a laugh.

"Everyone will" Shane said. He once again extended his hand out and Mitchie took hold of it. "Shall we?"

"We shall" Mitchie said as the two made their way back inside.

After making their way back inside, Shane beckoned Tyson over and the two went off to talk. "You two were out there an awefully long time" Caitlyn commented to Mitchie as the two made themselves comfortable in front of the fire. Caitlyn nestled back against Nate who was sitting behind her while Jason sat next to Mitchie.

"We were just talking" Mitchie replied with a smile.

"What happened?" Jason asked as he looked at Mitchie. Mitchie blushed under the gazes of everyone and ducked her head.

"He asked me to be his girlfriend" she said after a moments pause. Caitlyn screamed before tackling Mitchie to the ground. Nate and Jason laughed at the two.

"He finally did it" Nate commented while Mitchie rolled her eyes.

"Yes he finally did it and it was perfect" Mitchie said.

"He could have asked you out standing beside a scrap bin and our hopelessly romantic Mitchie would have still thought it to be perfect" Caitlyn teased.

"Mine was perfect and your's was cliche" Mitchie retorted with a laugh. Caitlyn smiled and looked back at Nate.

"Yeah and it was perfectly fine for me" Caitlyn said as she nestled back against Nate and pressed a quick kiss to his cheek.

"So what happens now?" Mitchie asked after a moments silence.

"We relax until new years and then start preparing for our tour" Jason said

"And we really get to come?" Caitlyn asked.

"Of course" Nate said.

"Who's going where?" Jake asked as he came and sat down with the group.

"We're going on tour with the boys" Mitchie said with a smile. The look of surprise that Jake's face held caused everyone to laugh.

"You're telling me the truth?"

"Would we lie to you Jake?" Caitlyn asked. Jake looked at his sister and raised his eyebrow.

"Do you really want me to answer that question?"

"Umm maybe not" Caitlyn said as she thought back to her childhood. Mitchie laughed before glancing back to where Shane and Tyson were talking.

"They'll be fine Mitchie" Jason said with a smile. Mitchie turned to him.

"I know, I just…..i know" she finally said.

"Brothers fight but they're still brothers" Nate said. "Shane will be stubborn for a while about it before he gives it all up and forgives his brother" Mitchie nodded while glancing back at the boys.

It was nearing midnight by the time Shane and Tyson returned to the room. Caitlyn and Nate had retreated to an armchair and were talking quietly with each other. Jake and Jason were laying by the fire playing a game of scrabble. A smile made its way across Shane's face as his gaze landed on a sleeping Mitchie. She was curled up on the sofa, blanket brought up to her chin and a peaceful look on her face. Tyson looked at his brother and saw where he was looking.

"You're lucky to have found her" he whispered. Shane looked at his brother.

"I don't deserve to have someone like her in my life" Shane replied before making his way over to her. Tyson watched as his brother whispered something in Mitchie's ear before she slowly moved and allowed Shane to snuggle up with her. Shane sat up while Mitchie rested her head in his lap. Mitchie said something to Shane which caused him to smile and press a kiss to her forehead. Mitchie sighed before closing her eyes again and drifted back off to sleep while Shane ran his fingers through her hair.

"You've never seen your brother like this have you?" Jason asked Tyson quietly. Tyson tore his gaze away from Shane and Mitchie to look at Jason and Jake lying on the floor.

"It's unusual to see" Tyson commented.

"Unusual yes but something we hope to see for a long time" Jason said with a smile. Tyson nodded as he looked back over at his brother.

"Well I'm going to head off to bed. Goodnight" Tyson said as he walked out of the room.

"Goodnight" Jason and Jake replied. Tyson closed the door to the living room and sighed. He had a long way to go before things could be normal with Shane but at least this was a start. He only hoped that the new year would bring about new beginnings for him and his family.

And that is the end of that Chapter. The next one shall be up soon :)