I honestly don't have much to say in an author note, so I'm just going to jump right into it!
The Monterios and Conterios didn't have to walk far to find an ice cream parlor with outdoor seating. The adults all got hard scoops of ice cream in plastic cups and spoons, while the boys both got the traditional soft cones. It was strangely surreal. Neither family could remember feeling so calm or friendly in one another's presence before. That being said, it wasn't something they could even try to complain about.
Nevada and Linda were laughing over some story or another, whilst the boys were going on over some new sport detail like a team-player traded or something along those lines. It was a serenity that both Tulio and Amelio never pictured their families could achieve together, yet somehow it felt much nicer than they thought it would ever be. It just felt nice to not have to bicker period now that the patriarchs thought more on it.
"You know, I don't think you've ever mentioned what inspired you and Nevada to adopt Bernardo when you did," Tulio remarked to his frienemy. "To be fair, you never did either, but I can imagine it wasn't hard after learning...all that..." Amelio retorted in response, his face darkening and pinching in distaste in recollection of Fernando's back-story.
"Mmm, fair," Tulio shrugged, "To be honest, Linda and I never thought much about adopting until we learned by accident that Fernando was an orphan, we honestly thought he had parents were just...really lenient with how he spends his days," Amelio raised a brow skeptically at this, "Hey, plenty of parents are loose with their kids, it was a fair assumption!"
Amelio didn't appear very convinced as he pointed out, "To the point of letting their son, who isn't even in high school yet, hang out with two adults?" Tulio cringed a little, not having much of a retort, able to concede the other man's point as very valid, had he been Fernando's actual father and had been aware of who the boy had been spending so much time with, he'd at least insist on meeting them or calling them or something.
Likewise, Linda and Nevada were having a similar conversation about their boys, Linda being the one to ask, "So, what inspired you guys to adopt Bernardo?"
Nevada hummed for a moment around the cherry that had been on top of her ice cream, she spat out the seed into her now empty cup before answering, "To be perfectly honest, it was you guys," Linda nearly spat out the last of her ice cream in surprise, looking up and blinking owlishly at her fellow shopkeeper, "Oh don't give me that, we saw how you guys acted even before you officially adopted Fernando; you all looked so...so content and happy, just so complete, Amelio and I just wanted something like that too, so...we went to the agency and after a while...we found Bernardo and things just...clicked, I guess..."
Linda hummed back in response, remembering that first week of having Fernando home; she could see where Nevada was coming from. During the day, it was just so blissful, having a child and someone to care for again. If she was being truthful, she missed that feeling of caring for someone after Blu joined the sanctuary with Jewel to begin his own life, and when she got Fernando, everything just...fell into place so seemlessly that, looking back on it, it amazed and frightened her all at once.
But at night...she learned just how damaged Fernando was. It was that second night that had been especially chilling. She supposed that euphoric feeling of being accepted and finally given love had worn off much more quickly then she thought it would've. She could still remember the feeling of a near heart attack and that same heart shattering with immediate dread and sorrow when she realized what had woken her up was Fernando screaming. She was never going to forget such horrid sounds...
A soft shake to her shoulder snapped her out of her thoughts and back into reality, making her blink and look to Conterio matriarch, "Huh? What?"
"Are you okay, Linda?" Nevada asked, "I called your name three times."
Linda shook her head and gave a smile she hoped didn't look too forced or pained, replying, "I'm fine just...I guess I'm still just a bit reeling from..." She couldn't stop herself from frowning as she looked to the boys, "From earlier."
"Ah," Nevada realized understandingly, though her face did contort with her sympathy, but there was something else to her expression Linda couldn't quite place, "I've...I've heard a lot of horror stories about how the kids get to the agency in the first place, but...at the same time to actually hear something like that...how anyone could harm a child so young, their own flesh and blood, like that...I just..."
Linda sympathetically placed a hand on the other woman's shoulder, "I thought the same too, I still can't believe how Fernando manages to smile everyday with that sort of trauma haunting his mind, but..." She couldn't the more genuine smile forming on her lips as she looked to her son again, "At the same time, I'm glad...I'm glad because I got the most amazing son I could ever ask for and if that wrecked excuse of a man can't see the gemstone he threw away so carelessly, then its his loss."
Nevada couldn't help throwing her head back with a rich, belting laugh at that last part, a wide grin threatened to break her face in half, "That, thankfully, is something we can both full-heartedly agree on!" She raised her cup like it was a wine glass to toast and Linda grinned back as she lifted her own.
"Cheers to that!" Linda agreed as they tapped their cups together before laughing.
Tulio then took that moment to check his watch, "Geez, time really does fly doesn't it?"
"Was that a bird joke?" Amelio asked arching an amused brow. "Not intentionally," Tulio shrugged.
"Is it really time to head back already?" Linda asked in surprise as she and Nevada fished out their phones to check the time themselves. "Yeah, if we leave now, we should have plenty of time to change for the next challenge," Tulio nodded before calling to Fernando and Bernardo, "Boys! Time to get going!"
"Already?" Bernardo questioned in surprise. "Coming Dad!" Fernando replied as they tossed their napkins and jogged over to their families.
When they got back to the park they found that the soccer nets had been replaced with tennis ones, the courts had been arranged in the space to fit two. Two tall chairs for the referees had been set back-to-back so the previous one wouldn't have to break his neck keeping his eye on two games at once, and two benches had been set up as well, each facing a different court, with score-boards which had been set to zero, both were the stereo-typical red and blue with big, block-styled numbers from zero to nine.
"Well, at least it isn't four courts and games all at once," Tulio amended. "See you guys later if you make it past the first few rounds," Nevada smirked as the familiar feeling of rivalry started to course through their veins. "Funny, I could say the same thing to you guys," Linda smirked back.
"Hey, if we do end up facing each other," Bernardo said mostly to Fernando, "You better not hold back on us, I'd never forgive you if you did."
"Count on it," Fernando grinned back and the two boys shook on it.
The Monterios were then given fishnet shirts to wear over their normal cloths and sweatbands, and just like the soccer games, the families were all given different colors. Theirs being a bright blue, matching the handles of their rackets.
"Okay, I am feeling really good for this game," Linda smiled as she stretched. "Yeah, Mom, I feel the same too," Fernando smiled as he practiced swinging his racket, "This is going to be great!"
Tulio smiled confidently, "We have this one in the bag."
"You three keep on believing that," Amelio said as the Conterios walked over, their gear being a brilliant red. "Just wait and see," Bernando added with a smirk that wasn't as harsh as it usually was, "You guys are going to need it."
"We'll see," Fernando shrugged surprised by how he didn't feel as bothered as he normally did.
"Ladies and gentlemen, the event is starting now," The announcer's voice boomed across the park, "If the contestants can stay on their designated courts, we will begin!"
"Take this L today, Fernando," Bernardo said. Please, you first," Fernando replied as they walked off. "You're probably going to need a lucky charm or two for this, once we're through," Nevada remarked with a sharp smile.
"Monterios and Conterios to court two please," The announcer called, the families obliged. The referee held up a coin, asking Tulio, "Heads or tails?"
"Heads," Tulio replied. The referee flipped the coin and announced, "Tails, Conterios get the first serve."
Amelio served and Tulio was quick to send the ball back over the net. Nevada was the one to hit the ball back, only for Linda to intervne. Bernardo dove and sent the ball flying back and Tulio missed, but Fernando didn't and managed to send it back over the net again. Back and forth, the ball kept going across the court and it was alright the second quarter when the referee called, "Half time!"
"Great work, Mom, Dad," Fernando grinned, "If we keep this sort of thing up, they'll have to crack eventually!"
Tulio chuckled, "If one of us doesn't give first..." As he said this, he rotated a shoulder
"We'll be fine, honey," Linda assured, handing out their water bottles, each having their initials in purple, "If you ask me, Nevada is going to cave first if we keep up this pace."
"I don't know about that, you and Nevada are both atheletic women, Amelio and I aren't, if we keep this up, he's likely the first to cave," Tulio shrugged. "All I know is," Fernando said, "One of us has to miss the ball just once, cause either way, neither of us can do this a third time if we don't get a point this quarter." They both nodded in agreement, putting their game faces on and jogged back to the court.
The Conterios had reached a similar conclusion.
"Let's end this," Amelio said and his son and wife nodded in agreement before they made their way back to the court.
Bernardo was the one to serve this time, hitting it as hard as he could, sending it sailing past Tulio, but Fernardo hit it just in time. Nevada hit the ball back to them and Linda returned fire with all her strength, prompting Amelio to jump and hit it back and Tulio managed to hit it in time. The clock was down to five seconds and Fernando was the one to send the ball flying, prompting Bernardo to jump to get it, but his arm strained at the last second, causing him to miss.
"And the Monterios win!" The referee announced, prompting the onlookers to cheer.
"Great job son!" Tulio said as he and Linda gave him a hug, "I'm so proud of you!"
Fernando blinked a bit, "I...I honestly thought he was going to hit it..."
"Thank god luck was on our side," Linda chuckled as she kissed his forehead.
Meanwhile, the Conterios were crowded around Bernardo in concern.
"Is he alright?" Nevada asked her husband in concern. "He'll be alright, he just needs a painkiller and a little rest," Amelio assured as he checked his son's arm over. "I was this close to making that win..." Bernardo pouted tearfully. "Shh...it's alright, son," Nevada assured gently, "You did your best and that's what counts..."
The announcer came on to the court, microphone in hand, "Everyone; your attention please!" Once silence fell over the area, the announcer continued, "Okay, everyone, tomorrow will be the last and final event of the competition; to determine our champions; the last event is the Rio Obstacle Course or R.O.C. for short; if you thought this event was crazy, just wait for tomorrow!" Everyone began to cheer and chatter in excitement for the upcoming final event and who was likely to win as best family in Rio de Jineiro.
Hey guys! Long time no activity, huh!
Geez, I got to say, I don't have many excuses for the silence; things have been a jumbled mess after my grandmother passed and the internet's connection coming and going. I'm also sorry for the short chapter, but I'll try to make up for it next chapter!
Till then everyone and I hope everyone's staying safe and wearing masks and following safety procedures!