The next few weeks went by. Olivia's and Rafael's wedding was in a week. They had a new home, with enough space for the four of them.
"Mi Amor?" Raf asked, as he sat down beside her.
"Yes?"
"By my calculations in about a month, we will have 2 boys that both will be Barba's and in one week you will be a Barba."
Liv smiled, leaning over to kiss him. About that time the doorbell rang.
"I've got it." Raf got up, going to the door.
Opening the door seeing Mrs. Jackson and Trevor.
"Hello, come in." Raf smiled, moving so they both could move inside.
Mrs. Jackson and Trevor walked around downstairs.
"Where is Noah and Miguel?" Mrs. Jackson asked.
"Upstairs doing homework, Noah has been helping Miguel get caught up to his grade level, we are homeschooling with help of my mother." Raf said.
"How about any sports or clubs?"
"Miguel was going with us to drop off Noah at dance class, Miguel seemed interested but wanted to wait and observe, but whatever he wants to do we will enroll him in. He's still adjusting to the fact that he is able to ask for it and if he likes any sports we will let him pursue them. Unless he wants to do something like parkour, at least for now."
They both nodded. Mrs. Jackson checked the kitchen, checking the upstairs Raf and Liv followed.
"Which room is Miguel's?"
"The one to your left, Noah's room then along the bathroom and ours at the end of the hall." Liv said, pointing to each door.
About that time, Noah opened the door. Miguel behind him,
"Papi, can we have a snack?" Noah asked.
"If it's a small one. Don't ruin your appetite, it will be dinner soon."
Raf led Miguel and Noah downstairs. As they went downstairs Mrs. Jackson listened to the conversation.
"What are we having, papi?"
"Albóndiga sub con una ensalada." Raf said, turning to him, smiling as he was trying to figure it out.
"Albóndiga is a meatball." Noah said, helping Miguel.
"Meatball sub with a side salad?" Miguel asked.
"Si, Miguel with pastel de chocolate for dessert." Raf smiled watching him figure it out as he got everything out.
"And chocolate cake for dessert." Miguel said.
"Muy bien Mijo."
Mrs. Jackson along with Trevor and Liv walked down, having finished the tour.
"I think everything is good to go, I just want to ask Miguel a few questions." Mrs. Jackson said.
Noah and Miguel were sitting on the couch.
"Miguel, could I ask you a few questions?"
"Yes ma'am?"
"Do you like living here?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Do you like having a brother?"
"Yes."
"Do you like the way they are raising you?"
"Yes. They spend time with me, play with me, watch movies, tuck me in at night." Miguel looked at Liv, Raf, and Noah.
Mrs. Jackson and Trevor nodded.
You are approved to adopt him once Judge Linden signs off on it." Trevor said.
They both left, Miguel and Noah hugged. Liv hugged Raf.
"Does that mean I'm home?" Miguel asked.
"Yes." Both Raf and Liv smiled.
The next day the four of them went to the park with the squad, Jesse, and Lucia after they went out for dinner and ice cream. Miguel got to know the squad and Lucia better. The school week came when Noah asked Miguel if he would come to dance and watch him, Miguel did.
"Not for you buddy?" Raf asked.
"No, not really."
"What do you like?" Raf asked.
"I like it when we play basketball during open gym."
"Is that the sport you want to join?"
"Think so, that's the only sport I love to play." Miguel smiled.
Later that night after the boys had gone to bed, Raf woke up to the blood curdling screaming coming from somewhere in the house. He jumped up, threw on sweats and a shirt as he made his way down the hallway. Olivia checked on Noah while Raf went to Miguel's room. Raf opened his door, looking over at the bed watching Miguel screamed as he was trapped in his sheets.
"Miguel, buddy, buddy." Raf said,loud enough for the boy to hear him, but not scare him.
"Papi help me please!" Miguel screamed in his sleep.
"I'm here, wake up mijo, wake up." Raf said softly.
"Papi please I didn't mean it, don't leave me papi."
Raf's heart broke, it took a few tries, but Miguel finally opened his eyes. He saw Raf, and threw himself into his arms.
"You're okay mijo, you're okay." Raf whispered, and hugged him.
After a few minutes, Liv came into the room. Raf had moved them so he was against the headboard, Miguel's head on his chest both arms tightly wrapped around him.
"He's out like a light but he has me in a death grip." Raf whispered.
"Has he said anything?"
"Papi help me please, Papi please I didn't mean it, don't leave me papi." Raf whispered.
"Are you going to stay with him for the rest of the night?"
"Yes, or until he wakes up, or let's go, he has me in a death grip. I tried to get up and he mumbled no and cuddled closer. I'll stay here until he wakes up." Raf smiled, looking down at Miguel.
Liv came closer, kissed him, and kissed Miguel's forehead.
"Love you, both."
"We love you too."
Liv left, Raf gently moved them both so they were lying down. He fell asleep in no time. The next morning Raf woke up, smiling at Miguel who had moved away from him during the night. Raf quietly got up, going to the kitchen, seeing Liv fixing breakfast. As he walked up behind her, he wrapped his arms around her.
"Morning mi amor."
"Morning, how's Miguel?" She asked, as she turned to kiss him.
"He was asleep, turned away from me when I woke up." Raf said, as he got coffee.
He looked at the refrigerator, smiling when his eye caught the date.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?"
"Yes, you sure you want to take both boys with you?" Liv asked, turning away from the oven, her own cup of coffee in her hand.
"I need to take them back to the place where we got our suits for some minor adjustments. After that we will go meet Eddie and his son at the park, dinner and ice cream then to the hotel." Raf said, turning to go get Noah and Miguel up.
When the boys came down for breakfast Olivia hugged and kissed them both.
"I'm going to miss you today. But I have a few things to do before tomorrow as well. Promise me you'll behave for papi and do as he asks."
They both nodded saying promise in sync.
"Thank you. Now sit down and eat, you have a busy day."
The whole day Raf noticed Miguel was off in his own little world. They went to the store to get their suits adjusted, and paid for them. As they walked to the restaurant to get dinner, he tried to get him to open up, after stopping for ice cream Raf tried again but with no success. After dinner, Noah was doing homework, Miguel had finished his and was watching tv when Raf decided to try to talk to him again.
"Hey buddy can we talk?"
"Yes, papi?"
"What's wrong? You've been acting like you did when you first came to live with me."
"Everywhere I go everyone makes fun of me because I'm different, I thought it would go away after I got to know everyone but it still happens."
"How come Noah or you didn't say anything?"
"They make sure Noah doesn't hear after they first started, Noah got really mad and told the teacher about them. I just didn't want to make trouble for myself."
"What do they talk about?"
"About my other parents both Noah's dad and the dad that hurt me. What happened to me was how messed up I must be for my own father to do that to me and I let it happen. "
"Is that why you're having bad dreams?"
"That, the memories of what was done to me and the scars from it."
"I'm sorry mijo why didn't you tell me and Mami? You know we will help you in any way."
"I don't know, I wished I did."
"From now on, please, do come to one or both of us okay?"
"Si."
"Are you excited to be an official Barba tomorrow?"
"Yes!" Miguel said.
