A/N: Alright, I know this is way overdue, and this is not the first time this happened. But I am really sorry, ladies and gentlemen, I've been really busy juggling real-life stuff. But I'm back on track now. In the meantime, here is DarkWind13 for the review on the previous chapter, Sydney for the review on the first chapter, and Puppies and Nightlock and TheOneWithALeftBrain for the reviews on chapter 3. I hope you all enjoy this brand-new chapter.

Disclaimer: I do not own Sing or any of the characters, Illumination does.

…

Olivia smiled as she looked through the window and saw Johnny, James, and Liam all running about in the backyard, shouting and laughing.

The boys had just returned from their first day of school and all three had been in good moods from the moment they first arrived. Especially Johnny.

Olivia was thankful for that. She hadn't been around as much lately after Megan's passing, but she had seen how hard poor little Johnny had taken the loss of his beloved mother.

She could still remember the way Johnny had clung to his father at the funeral, sobbing quietly as the casket had been slowly lowered into the earth.

Megan had been her best friend, but best friends and mothers were two very different things.

Pushing these thoughts from her mind, Olivia set her kitchen timer with her trunk while she lifted the tray of batter into the oven.

Another smile climbed her lips as she imagined the surprise the three playing children would no doubt feel when they were presented with the treat now baking in the oven. Now she just needed to whip up the frosting.

…

"So, what d'you think of Miss Ainsley?" James asked as the trio of children sat down, their energy spent from playing.

"I like her," Johnny declared. "She's real nice and she doesn't act like we're tryin' to start trouble."

"That is nice," Liam chimed in. "Your cousins were right, James."

"It runs in the family," James grinned. "So, I guess the pair of you should start listenin' to me more."

"Oh, give over!" Liam scoffed, giving the leopard cub a light shove.

Johnny snickered at the antics, when his laughter was joined by someone else's.

"What's all this now?" a newcomer's voice chuckled, prompting all three boys to whirl around and come face to face with a large mountain gorilla.

"Uncle Barry!" Johnny exclaimed, racing over to the older ape and launching himself right at him.

Barry chuckled as he lifted the infant onto a shoulder.

"I take it you're 'appy to see me then," he snickered as Johnny began crawling onto his back and latching onto his thick fur.

He didn't have a chance to reach for the infant before James began climbing up his other arm.

"Watch them claws," Barry said as the cub purred and began kneading his claws into the blackback's shoulder fur.

"Can't help it," James remarked between purrs. "You got soft fur."

"I can't climb," Liam pouted, watching enviously as his friends relaxed on Barry's shoulders.

Hearing his friend's words, Johnny slid down Barry's shoulder and onto the middle of his back, once more clinging to the fur there before giving a small tug.

Barry understood the meaning; a nonverbal request from Johnny to let Liam sit on his shoulder.

Sighing in mock exasperation, the older gorilla reached out and set the buffalo calf onto his now free shoulder.

…

As Olivia went out to call Liam, James, and Johnny inside to wash up before supper, she was surprised to see the three all sitting or hanging on Johnny's uncle Barry. She hadn't known he was going to come by tonight, Marcus had only said that he was coming home late tonight.

A part of her was a bit put out by this. Johnny didn't seem bothered, even though he had told her shortly after Megan's funeral that Marcus had gone several days seemingly not noticing him. It didn't take a genius to see that that had hurt Johnny deeply. Yet now, the four-year-old gorilla didn't seem the lease bit bothered by it.

Megan may have been her best friend since the girls were very young, but Olivia never could see what she had seen in the silverback that had become her husband. Maybe it was a gorilla thing?

No, that couldn't be it. Megan's parents, Lucy and George, hadn't understood the appeal either.

Before she could do anything however, the timer went off and Olivia quickly removed the cupcake tray from the oven and set the cakes on a plate to cool while she prepared the frosting.

She had just set the last cake down when the back door opened and in walked Barry, still weighed down by the three boys.

"I thought Marcus was coming home a little later," Olivia remarked coolly.

"He still is," Barry admitted, setting James and Liam down, smiling ruefully as Johnny stubbornly held to his fur, clearly refusing to move from his spot. "I got finished early, so 'e sent me by."

"Well, there's nothing to worry about here," Olivia said, turning her attention back to the cupcakes. "Boys, make sure you wash up before supper. It's almost ready."

"Somethin' smells pretty good," James said, sniffing the air eagerly.

"None of you lot are getting a single sweet until you have your dinner," Olivia warned. "And you're only getting dinner after I see clean hands and paws."

"You heard the lady, lads," Barry laughed. "Go ahead and get cleaned up."

The trio scampered off, leaving the adult elephant and gorilla alone.

"Marcus should have said something if he was going to send you by today," Olivia sighed, eyeing the blackback critically.

"Just kinda happened," came the reply. "I got finished with me work a bit sooner and 'e asked me to pop in and see how Johnny was doin' after his first day."

"Well, he's fine," the coldness in Olivia's tone couldn't be missed. "Everything is fine, so if you don't mind, I have three boys to feed. And James's grandmother and Liam's mother will be by to collect them soon."

Barry frowned but chose not to say anything. He couldn't think of any reason for the underlying hostility, so he couldn't think of what to do or say about it.

…

After James's grandmother and Liam's father came to take the boys home, Olivia heard the door open and in walked Marcus.

"Daaad!" Johnny came bounding into the room and threw his arms around the older gorilla's waist.

"Guess you're 'appy ta see me then?" Marcus chuckled as he ruffled the fur on top of Johnny's head, earning a giggle from the infant.

As she watched father and son interact, Olivia felt a twinge of surprise. This was unlike the Marcus that Lucy had described to her.

While she was Megan's best friend, she had hardly ever spoken to Marcus, so she really didn't know him that well. All she knew was what Megan's mother and father had said about the silverback. And what they had said was far from favorable. But…could they have perhaps been mistaken?

…

…

I do hope you guys enjoyed the new chapter. And the next one will be even longer, and it'll be out on Monday, August 8th. Until then, everyone.