Crusher felt uneasy as he entered the house of the Blaze Family.

The place was warm and cozy, full of pictures of the whole family while the walls were painted peach and the floor was brown. The whole house was welcoming to any guest.

Unfortunately, he wasn't going to JUST be a guest.

He couldn't even believe himself that HE was going to be taken in and adopted by the exact same family that he had cheated against in a race all those months ago, the same family that he had planned to get rid of just a day ago…

It was all too much, and he didn't know if he was ready for it.

"Crusher? You alright?"

Crusher snapped out of his thoughts and turned to his rival— er, brother now, who glanced over at him with concern. He cleared his throat and looked down.

"…m'fine,"

"You sure?" Blaze didn't look convinced as the rest of the family scattered to get ready for dinner. "You look… uncomfortable,"

"It's… It's not what you think," Crusher sighed. "It's just… the races I cheated… the destruction I did… I… how did you even get your parents to agree to take me in after all I've done…?"

"My parents would adopt a while orphanage if they could," Blaze chuckled and patted his new brother's back. "How do you think we adopted AJ?"

"I bet he was a good kid when they did," Crusher hissed. "But me? No, there's… there's got to be a mistake,"

"Crusher, look at me," Blaze frowned. "All I did was tell them my idea and explain to them what your parents did. Their decision was all on them,"

"But I… I'm not family material," Crusher began to tear up before he even realized it. "I… I'm just gonna mess things up,"

"You won't," Blaze offered him a smile. "I know that you won't. You just have to believe in yourself… like how I believe in you,"

"Blaze! Crusher!" Phoenix called putting from the kitchen. "Dinner's ready!"

"We better go," Blaze suggested, locking tires with the other. "Come on. It's Taco Tuesday, and Dad and AJ might finish dinner before we can get a bite,"

Crusher still felt uneasy but offered his new brother a small smile as he let himself be dragged to the dining room. Tacos were all piled up on a plate that Phoenix had set down on the table as the rest of the family gathered around the table.

Maybe… he could do this. Maybe he could belong.

Crusher started to munch on one taco and watch as everyone began to munch and chatter simultaneously. Flame and AJ were beginning to have a contest to see who could eat the most tacos, with Sparkle rooting on her father while Blaze rooted for his best friend. Phoenix was telling them off playfully as she munched on her own taco whilst telling Sparkle not to get too many tacos or Blaze to not encourage AJ to eat too much.

Watching them was life watching a live family show.

A show where they all belonged together as a family.

And Crusher… he felt awkward just watching them. He wanted to interact with them, make small talk, cheer on with the ridiculous contest they were having, but his social anxiety returned faster than he was able to lose it all those years ago, and he became quiet as he watched.

Maybe… he just isn't family enough to interact with them.

Maybe he just… wasn't enough.

The tears brimmed his eyes quicker than he had anticipated. He managed to stop himself from sobbing, however, by eating more of the taco in his tire before wiping away the tears.

He really wasn't enough.

He didn't deserve to be there at all.

And while everyone was still focused on the challenge, he finished his taco and slipped out of the dining room to head out the door.

Unfortunately for him, despite the distraction, someone DID notice him leave.

Phoenix had been observing the dark blue truck for the whole dinner. The quietness and silent munching concerned her and opened up more of her motherly instinct.

Him slipping out of the dining room was when her concern peeked, and she quickly rushed off to follow. She soon found him about to head out the door.

"Leaving so soon?"

Crusher jumped and turned to face her with wide, fearful eyes. The same look Phoenix had seen in any abandoned child's eyes.

"I…" the dark blue truck swallowed and glanced down in shame. "I'm sorry, but I… I don't think I belong here,"

"Oh? Whatever made you say that, honey?" Phoenix asked, driving closer to him.

"I… I don't know if I'm cut out for this whole… family thing," Crusher grimaced at his own words. "I just… I don't belong here. I don't belong… anywhere,"

"Oh, Crusher, that's not true," Phoenix sighed. "We took you in, and you are family as much as AJ is to us. How can you say that you don't belong?"

"I… I don't even know the first thing to do in a family," Crusher's voice shook, and they both knew that he was second away from breaking down. "What if… What if I mess up? I've messed up enough…"

"Whatever Zhan Tiri did was a manipulation," Phoenix assured him, wiping the tears threatening to roll down his cheeks. "No one blames you. I sure don't,"

"You… You don't…?" Crusher stared up at her in surprise. "But… why? I… I'm not family, not now, not ever," He glanced down with a choked sob. "I don't deserve anything you are all doing for me,"

"Oh, Crusher…" Phoenix took the dark blue truck into her tires. "And you don't deserve any treatment your parents did to you. You are a smart, sweet child, I can see that you are. You belong in this family, more than you know, more than we can tell you. You just have to give it time, as we will for you to adjust,"

Crusher felt himself shaking with every word spoken to him. He couldn't take it anymore, and he began to sob in the other's tires. Phoenix held him closer as he did so and waited for him to calm down. When he did, she slowly pulled away and gently stroked a tear away.

"Better now?"

"Mm-hmm…" Crusher nodded slowly. "C-Can I… rest, though? I… I feel tired,"

"Of course, dear," Phoenix gave a smile and a nod. "Come along,"

X

"I win!" AJ exclaimed.

"Yeah-heh!" Blaze did a high-tire with his best friend. "Nice, AJ!"

"And I thought I would win," Flame let out a sigh before chuckling and ruffling AJ's hair. "Oh well. Beaten by my own son. Good job, AJ!"

"Hehe, thanks, Dad!" AJ laughed.

"Hey, where did Mom and Crusher go?" Sparkle looked around in confusion.

"Huh, I don't know," Blaze also glanced around to look for them.

"Well, Crusher did say he was tired earlier," AJ pointed out. "Maybe Mom led him to a room?"

"Let's go and check," Flame said.

They all drove out of the dining room and into the halls of their house. They soon heard soft singing from a room and approached it to see Phoenix tucking Crusher in the bed. She pecked his forehead gently then she glanced over at them with shush expression before slowly making her way to them, closing the door to let the dark blue truck have his rest.