Emma walked down to the basement and noticed Oliver wasn't on the couch. She wasn't feeling anxious about that. She figured Oliver went into Drew's room to say, "Good morning." She walked toward Drew's room and knocked quietly on his door. When he didn't answer, Emma opened the door, peeked in, and noticed Oliver on the floor holding Drew's hand. Drew was practically hanging off the bed to hold onto Oliver's hand, and Emma put her hand to her heart. She looked at them for a few seconds, then decided to give them privacy. She softly closed Drew's door and went back upstairs.
A few moments later, Drew opened his eyes and looked down at Oliver, who was still asleep. He smiled at the sight of Oliver sleeping, and he watched him for a few minutes. He slowly pulled his hand away because he had to go to the bathroom, and Oliver stirred.
"Hey."
Oliver squinted and smiled, "Hi."
"How did you sleep?"
"Better than I would have on the couch."
Drew smiled and sat up. He stretched and said, "I'm supposed to meet my other grandparents today."
"Oh yeah?"
Drew nodded, "And my uncle. He's a lot older than my dad, and he has three daughters."
"So, you have three new cousins?"
"Yep."
Oliver said, "This is a good thing, right?"
Drew shrugged, "I guess."
"Your family is growing, and I'm losing mine." Oliver sighed then asked, "Are your parents going to have me stay here while you visit your grandparents?"
Drew shook his head, "You're coming with us."
"So, where are they?"
"Up in Wasaga Beach." Drew threw off his blanket and then panicked and put it back over himself.
Oliver stood up and stretched, "Can I use the bathroom?"
"Of course."
"Cool. Be right back."
Oliver walked into the bathroom and closed the door. As soon as he did, Drew looked down at his morning wood and tried to talk it down. He thought of things that would not excite him at all, whispered them to his crotch, and it wouldn't go down. "Oh, God, why now?"
When Drew heard the toilet flush, he grabbed a pillow and covered himself. Oliver looked at Drew and asked, "Are you okay?"
"Huh? Oh yeah. I'm fine."
Oliver smiled and asked, "Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh."
"Morning wood?"
Drew shook his head, "I just hate that I can't control it."
"You like me that much, huh?" Drew's eyes bugged out, and Oliver quickly said, "I'm just kidding!"
Drew narrowed his eyes at Oliver.
"I'll leave you alone."
Drew chuckled, "Just tell my mom I'll be up in a bit."
Oliver nodded and walked out of Drew's room. Drew gingerly got up off his bed and walked into the bathroom.
Emma waited in the kitchen and got everything ready for the pancakes she was going to make. A few minutes later, Sean and Maddie walked into the house. "Hey, babe."
"Hi!"
Sean looked around and asked, "Where are Drew and Oliver?"
"They're still sleeping."
"Oh." He set everything down on the island.
Maddie walked into the kitchen, and Emma asked, "Would you like you to help me with breakfast?"
"Sure!"
"Great!"
Oliver walked into the kitchen, and Emma smiled at him, "Good morning, Oliver. How did you sleep?"
"Good, thanks again. For everything."
"You're welcome, sweetie. I'm making pancakes." Emma looked toward the basement door and asked, "Where's Drew?"
"He'll be up in a bit."
After Sean emptied the bags and set up the brunch items on the table, he sat in the living room and turned on the TV, "Oliver, you wanna watch some soccer?"
"Sure!" Oliver walked over and sat on the loveseat while Sean sat on the couch.
"Do you have a favorite team?"
Oliver nodded, "Man City. You?"
"Tottenham. I enjoy suffering."
Oliver laughed.
It took nearly 10 minutes but Drew finally made it upstairs, and when he walked into the kitchen, he kissed Emma on the cheek, "Good morning."
"Good morning, sweetie. I'm making pancakes for everyone, and dad got some other stuff. It's on the table."
Sean called out, "Morning, kiddo!"
Drew walked into the living room and sat next to Oliver, "Good morning, dad."
Sean looked over at the boys and smiled, "Oliver, we are taking a trip up to Wasaga Beach later."
"Drew told me. Are you sure it's okay that I go, Mr. Cameron?"
Sean scoffed, "Of course it is! I'm sure Drew doesn't want to hang with his parents and grandparents alone all day."
Oliver asked, "How will you explain who I am?"
"You're Drew's friend, which is true, and we'll just say that you're staying with us while your parents are away."
Oliver nodded, "Okay."
Emma called out, "The first round of pancakes is done! There's enough for two, and since Maddie helped me, she gets the first batch."
Drew said to Oliver, "You take them."
"Are you sure?"
Drew nodded, "Yep. Go ahead."
Oliver stood up, said, "Thanks," and walked toward the kitchen.
Drew looked at Sean, and Sean asked, "Everything okay?" Drew nodded. "Are you sure?"
He shrugged, "I guess I'm a little nervous."
"You have no reason to be nervous." Sean smiled, "Your grandparents are going to love you."
"I'm nervous about how they'll be with mom."
Sean leaned forward and said, "You have nothing to worry about. I already talked to them about everything. It will be fine, I promise."
Drew turned and watched as Emma handed Oliver his pancakes, then turned back to Sean. "Are you sure?"
Sean nodded, "I'm sure."
Drew smiled, "Okay."
Sean turned back to the TV, and Tottenham gave up a goal, "Oh, goddamn it!"
Emma scolded him from the kitchen. "Sean!"
Drew laughed, "Mom, you don't think we've heard that language?"
Emma shook her head and laughed. Sean said, "Look, I'm sorry. I get a little crazy watching soccer, okay?"
Emma asked, "When did you get into soccer?"
"A few years back. I was sick of listening to the guys at the shop where I worked talking about it all the time and having no idea what they were talking about."
She nodded, "Ah, I see."
Maddie sat at the island, eating her pancakes, and said to Emma, "My older brother is really into soccer. He'll be screaming at the T.V. at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday and wake up the whole house."
Emma shook her head, "Guys and their sports."
Maddie asked, "You don't like sports?"
Emma shrugged, "I watch it, but I'm not a diehard fan like my boys are." She plated more pancakes and said, "Drew, your breakfast is ready."
Drew stood up and walked over to the island, "Thanks, mom."
"You're welcome."
After breakfast, Maddie went back up to the guest room to gather her stuff. Sean knocked on the door and walked in.
"Maddie, I have a question for you."
Maddie looked at him, "Oh?"
"Yeah," He scrunched his face and asked, "This is a little embarrassing but did Emma and I keep you up?" Maddie's face turned red, and Sean grimaced, "Oh God, I'm so sorry."
Maddie shook her head, "I get it. I've heard my older brother and his girlfriend before."
Sean laughed, "You poor thing."
Maddie shrugged and said, "I think it's nice that you and Miss Nelson love each other so much."
Sean nodded, "I love Emma more than life itself."
Maddie sighed, "I hope someone will feel that way about me someday."
Sean smiled and said, "They will." He walked to the door and turned back to her, "I can drive you home. You don't have to call your mom."
"Are you sure?"
He nodded, "Yep. I want to pick up some things before we head up to Wasaga. Meet me in my truck."
"Okay."
Sean jogged down the stairs and smiled at Drew and Oliver. He walked over to Emma and grabbed his keys off the kitchen counter. "I'm going to drop Maddie off at her house, then pick up some things I'd like to bring to my mom, and then I'll come back, and we can go?"
"Sounds good."
"Good." Sean kissed her, smiled, then whispered, "Maddie heard us last night, by the way."
Emma gasped and covered her mouth.
"See ya in a bit." Sean walked out of the house, and Emma's face felt hot.
When Maddie came down the stairs, Emma walked over to her, hugged her, and quietly said, "I'm so sorry."
Maddie laughed and said, "Thank you for everything, Miss Nelson." Drew and Oliver stood up, and Maddie laughed, "You don't have to hug me goodbye. See you at school tomorrow."
Oliver walked over and hugged her anyway, "Thank you for being so cool, Maddie."
"You're welcome."
Drew waved at her, and she walked out of the house.
Emma said, "Okay, well, you heard your dad. Get ready!"
Drew nodded then asked, "How should I dress?"
"Dress like you're going to school. Your grandparents are not fancy people at all."
Oliver said, "So I'll get my stuff and go up to the guest room?"
"Yep, and the good thing is I don't have to change the bedding because Maddie didn't sleep in it."
Drew said, "Yeah, she's an insomniac."
Emma said under her breath, "I wish I had known that sooner."
"Did you say, something mom?"
Emma smiled and said, "Nope. I'm going to finish getting ready."
By the time Sean returned from his second trip out and about, Emma, Drew, and Oliver were ready to head up to Wasaga. Sean laughed when he saw them and said, "Okay, well, I need to relieve myself first, and then we'll head out."
Emma asked, "Babe, do you want me to drive?"
"Nope, plus, my truck is bigger, and I just filled it with gas."
"Okay."
He smiled, "Give me five seconds."
"Take your time." Sean winked at her and walked into the powder room.
Emma took a deep breath, and Drew asked, "Mom, are you okay?"
"I'm just nervous."
"You never met dad's parents?"
She shook her head, "Nope, but I knew his brother when we were younger."
Drew nodded.
"They're really going to be shocked when they see how much you look like your dad."
"Did he warn them?"
Sean walked out of the powder room and said, "Yes, I told them how much you look like me." He looked at them all and said, "Come on! Let's go!"
Emma was pretty quiet during the ride up to Wasaga, but it was fine because Sean and the boys did enough talking for everyone. Emma looked out the window and smiled. While she was terrified about Sean's parents' reaction to keeping Drew away from him for nearly 14 years, she was thrilled to be with her son and with the man she loved. Two months ago, this didn't seem possible. Now? She wondered why she ever kept them away from each other.
"We're here!"
Emma snapped out of her trance and looked at the Camerons' trailer. It hadn't changed much since the last time she saw it, the day Sean decided to stay back in Wasaga and not return to Degrassi or Ellie. That all seemed like a lifetime ago.
They all got out of the truck, and right as Sean was about to knock on the door, his mom opened it, "You're here! Come in!" She turned and yelled inside, "They're here!"
Tracker and Sean's father walked out of the kitchen and into the main living area. Sean said, "Um, mom, dad, Tracker, this is Drew."
Drew stood there, not knowing what to do, so he waved and said, "Hi."
Tracker said, "Holy shit, man, he's your clone."
Sean laughed and said, "I told you!" He motioned to Oliver, "This is Drew's best friend, Oliver. We're watching him while his parents are in Europe."
Oliver also waved awkwardly and said, "Hi."
Sean's mom said, "Well, come on in and sit!"
Sean at his brother, "It's good to see you."
"It's good to see you too." They hugged, and Tracker focused his gaze on Emma. "Emma? Emma Nelson?"
She smiled, "Hi, Tracker."
"Oh my God, get over here!" He kept his arms open for her, and she walked into them, "You look incredible."
Sean said, "Watch it."
Tracker laughed when he pulled away from the hug. He looked at Sean and Emma and said, "I always figured you'd find your way back to each other."
Sean's mom looked at Emma and said, "Well, I'm glad you got back together; otherwise, I wouldn't have known about my only grandson."
"Ma!" Sean scolded her.
She put up her hands and said, "That's all I'm going to say about it. You're here now, and he's here, and I'm happy that our family is even bigger."
Emma nodded.
Sean held up the flowers he had been holding, "Sorry, mom, these are for you." He handed her the flowers and said, "I also brought some dessert for later."
Sean's mom linked arms with Emma and said, "Emma, come into the kitchen with me. I'm making meatloaf!"
Emma smiled and said, "That sounds great!"
Sean laughed and said, "Mom, I told you Emma was a vegetarian."
"I know that. We have a bunch of sides and salad for her!"
Emma looked at Sean and said, "It's fine. I'm sure everything will be great."
Sean followed his mom and Emma into the kitchen. "Where should I put this?"
"Put it in the fridge and leave us alone."
Sean laughed and said, "Okay." He kissed Emma on the cheek, "Have fun." He whispered, "I'll be right inside."
Emma giggled.
Mr. Cameron asked, "So, Drew, do you play any sports?"
"I tried out for basketball, but they picked a ninth-grader over me."
Tracker said, "Just come back better and stronger next year."
Drew nodded.
Sean walked into the room and sat next to Tracker, "Man, I still can't believe you're here. How are the girls?"
Tracker said, "Hoo boy. We have some drama." He looked at Drew, "Your oldest cousin, Sarah, came out to us last month."
Sean's dad asked, "Came out?"
Tracker nodded. "Yes, she told us she's pansexual. I didn't even know what that was until she explained it to me."
"Pansexual?" Sean's dad scoffed, "She's too young to know about that stuff."
Tracker laughed and said, "We knew we were straight at her age. It's all the same thing."
Sean couldn't believe how open-minded Tracker was being. "Wow. You've really evolved, Tracker."
He rolled his eyes, "Gee, thanks. I'm not a monster, Seany. I'll admit, it took me a few days to get used to it, but I love my daughter, no matter what. And as long as the person she's with treats her right, that's all I care about."
Oliver stood up, "Um, excuse me." He walked out, and Sean stood up.
Tracker watched as Oliver left the trailer and asked, "Is he okay?"
"Uh, yeah." Drew got up, and Sean said, "I'll handle this. Be right back."
Sean jogged out of the trailer and ran up to Oliver. "Oliver!"
Oliver stopped walking and said, "I'm sorry, Mr. Cameron."
Sean put his hand on Oliver's shoulder and said, "Oliver, it's okay. I'm sorry. I didn't know anything about this. This is the first time I'm seeing my brother in a long time."
"I just wish my mom could be like you."
"I know, and I'm sorry she's not."
Oliver began to cry, and Sean hugged him, "You'll be okay. I promise. We will help you through this."
"Thank you."
Tracker looked out the door and asked Drew, "What's going on with your friend?"
Drew said, "It's not my place to say."
Tracker nodded then asked, "Is it something similar to my daughter?"
Drew nodded, "Me too, by the way."
Tracker turned to Drew and asked, "Yeah?"
"Yes. And my parents know, and they're fine with it."
Tracker smiled, "I will give you Sarah's email. You two can talk to each other."
Drew asked, "Will you ever bring them here, or will we have to go out to see you?"
Tracker shrugged, "We'll see. I'm just here to help out a friend with a job." He took out his phone and showed Drew pictures of his cousins.
"Are they all tall like you?"
Tracker laughed, "Yes. You're almost as tall as your dad."
Drew smiled, "Yeah, he always jokes about how much taller I'll be than him. My mom's dad is tall."
"Our dad is tall, and poor Sean got the short genes from mom's side of the family."
Sean and Oliver headed back to the trailer, and Sean let Oliver walk in ahead of him.
Tracker asked, "Is everything okay?"
Oliver nodded, "Yeah."
Sean looked around and said, "Maybe you guys should go take a walk around, and we'll call you inside when dinner's ready."
Drew nodded and said to Oliver, "Let's go."
When the boys walked out, Tracker looked at Sean, "Drew told me."
"He did?"
Tracker nodded, "I told him I'd give him Sarah's email."
Sean smiled, "Thank you, I appreciate that."
"Well, the cousins should get to know each other, right?"
Sean nodded, "Thank you for being so cool about this, man."
"As I said, I'm going through the same thing. So what's going on with Oliver?"
"His mom kicked him out."
Tracker shook his head, "Some people shouldn't be parents."
Mr. Cameron asked, "What are you two whispering about over there?"
Tracker laughed and said, "We're not whispering, pop."
Meanwhile, in the kitchen, Emma and Mrs. Cameron were preparing the meatloaf.
"Is it okay that I'm making this?"
"Yes! I'm the only vegetarian here. I wouldn't want to force everyone to eat something they don't want to."
"Drew isn't a vegetarian?"
Emma laughed, "No. Our son is very headstrong."
"Like his father."
Emma smiled and said, "Yes. He's just like Sean."
"I can't get over how much he looks like Seany too. He warned us, but I still wasn't prepared."
"Yeah, it's like being in high school again sometimes."
Mrs. Cameron turned and looked at Emma, "Why did you keep him from my son for so long?"
Emma shook her head, "I wanted to tell him, but the longer it went on, the easier it became to keep the secret. It wasn't malicious, I promise." Mrs. Cameron nodded, and Emma continued, "Then, out of nowhere, Sean reappeared in my life, and he found out about Drew before I could tell him."
Mrs. Cameron nodded then asked, "Do you love my son?"
Emma nodded, "He's the love of my life."
Mrs. Cameron smiled, "He really turned his life around."
Emma smiled, "I'm so proud of him. And he's an amazing father."
"Good." She wiped a tear away, "I'm glad to hear it."
Emma grabbed Mrs. Cameron's hand and smiled.
Sean walked into the kitchen, saw Emma and Mrs. Cameron holding hands, and asked, "Is everything okay in here?"
"Yep." Emma smiled, "Everything's fine."
