Chris wasn't expecting Martin to be so angry. In his hands were the papers proving he adopted Diana and Kyle. Yet, he expected Martin to be excited, but instead, Martin was really upset. Chris sighed deeply and said, "Martin, listen. I did it for the kids."
Martin shook his head, "You have no idea how to care for a girl and a boy! They have to go back to their father."
Chris frowned, "But their father is a drunk, abusive, nut case! Even poor Diana thinks her father killed her mother and their new baby!"
Martin sighed deeply, "Chris, you don't know what you are doing. Taking care of two kids as a 'father' is hard work. You need to supply them clothes, food, shelter, and most of all, support. And I have one thing to say, those papers were sighed by you and you alone. So that means, you are NOT going to ask the gang for any support. This is your responsibilty."
Chris was taken back. For the first time his brother didn't want to have anything in part with his ideas! Chris gulped at the thought of trying to raise Diana without her aunts, his friend and sister-in-law. What in the world was Martin getting him into?
Chris answered, "Fine, then. I guess I'll have to... have to... Go over to Mom's then. She loves her grandchildren-in-law!"
Martin turned his heel and his back towards his young brother. With a scoff in his voice, he said, "Don't come crying to me when you can't support them anymore."
Chris frowned and clutched his fists. He knew better than to throw more matches unto a burning flame already. He walked into the HQ and said quietly, "Diana, Kyle; say goodbye to your aunties... We're... leaving the Tortuga."
Aviva's face shot up in shock. Chris shook his head privately. Laura was in the other room with Martin. Diana walked up to Aviva and hugged, "See you later, Auntie Aviva."
Aviva said quietly, "Chris will take good care of you, sweetie..."
Chris helped the kids get their stuff ready. Kyle said, "Why are we leaving?"
Chris answered, "Uncle Martin doesn't like it how I adopted you."
Diana said with a childish frown, "Then he doesn't know how much we love you!"
Chris looked at his hand and answered, "No, sweetie. Martin thinks I'm not capable of taking care of you two, because I don't have... well, a girl to be with me. To be your mommy."
Diana grinned, "Then you can get a mommy!"
Chris cringed and said with a low voice, "I don't know how to find you a mommy, kids. It takes time for that relationship to develop."
Kyle said, "I want to go, I think we are being watched."
Chris nodded and helped with the kids. He got them out of the Tortuga. Aviva was out there to see them. Diana gave her aunt a straight back turn. Chris was ashamed how fast they were getting to hate their uncle for Chris' choice. Chris said, "Go back inside Aviva."
Aviva said quickly, "I'll bring you to your mother's."
Chris said sternly, "Martin doesn't want any of you to help me! Now go away!"
Aviva's eyes filled with tears, "You're not serious, are you?"
Chris said, 'I'm sorry, but I have to go..."
Chris took the kids off from the path of the Tortuga. He hated to look bad and be a coward to the kids he decided to raise on his own. All he could think about was Aviva's face full of tears. What did he just do?!
Linda was excited about Chris' choice. When he caused the children to go outside to play, he told his mother privately what his brother had told him. All Linda did was shake her head, "Martin doesn't understand it, honey. You should have asked for some advice before running off. I know you love the children, but your brother not knowing about it did hurt his heart."
Chris sighed, "Do I really need to get off my butt and find a girl now?!"
Linda chuckled, "As a wife to your father, don't rush. William was a stickler. He hated women until he found the right one," Linda sighed as Chris recalled the tragic accident his father had not too long ago. Before Chris had his hand removed by the fox trap, William's truck's engine exploded while on one of his travels. The explodion was so intense, it killed William on the road. By the time the firefighters reached the scene, William's body was half in ashes.
Chris answered, "I know Dad's death was hard on you, Mom... But I am wondering now if Dad would be pleased."
Linda caressed Chris' cheek. Linda's eyes filled with tears, "William knows you got the loving side from him and he was proud of that. Seeing how you defended the children from any intense harm is telling me you are so much like your father. He loved you boys and seeing you making room for two sad children... Oh, Chris!"
Chris watched as his mother wiped the tears from her face. She really missed her husband. Chris looked at his hand and said, "Dad would really be scared if he saw this happen to me."
Linda nodded, "It took a while for us to remember you, Chris... I hated it how I yelled at Martin for not protecting you."
Chris raised his head in shock, "That's probably why Martin was mad at me! He was protecting me from going into depression with the kids."
Linda sighed deeply, "Call him, sweetie. Maybe that's the reason."
Chris regretted the thought, but did call his brother. He knew Laura's number was on his mother's phone. He dialed it quickly and waited...
"Hello," Answered a feminine voice.
Chris sighed, "Hey, Laura... Is Martin there?"
Laura said, "I'll get him..."
No hi... No 'Hey, Chris. Boy am I glad to hear from you...' Martin turned out to be really stern with not letting the gang talk to him.
Martin's voice was heard, "Hello?"
Chris was afraid to speak. He handed the phone to his mother and shook his head. Linda took it and answered, "Hey, honey."
"Hey, Mom... Took you a while, are you alright?"
Linda answered, "Yes, Martin. I asked Chris to call you, it was him that was on the phone before he passed it to me."
She heard a scoff on his end, "Chris? What does he want? I told him that I don't want to have anything to do with him and those kids. He didn't ask anything from me. Just went off and adopted two kids he didn't really know."
"Grandma! Grandma!"
Chris picked up Diana and said, "Grandma's busy, honey."
Diana hugged Chris' neck and said, "Okay, Chris."
Linda said, "The kids love Chris, Martin -"
"Mom, I don't care. I don't want you supporting Chris and those kids. They are his responsibilty -"
"Now, Martin. I love those kids too, but ignoring Chris is not the right answer. Ignoring Chris will likely bring him closer to depression than anything. You made the mistake."
"Mom, listen, please. Chris is just asking so you can support them when they are in his name!"
Chris and Diana heard Martin's remark. Kyle was in the kitchen when he heard it. He hid in one of the cabinets and began to cry. Chris carefully dropped Diana to the floor and took the phone from his mother and yelled directly at Martin, "You better stop it, Martin! I will do as you say and you will see who will turn out! I will be FAR away from you and from Mom! You won't hear from me for years!"
"Chris... Chris!"
Chris hung up the phone and toss it next to his mother. Linda stood up and begged Chris to stay. But Chris said, "Diana, honey, get your stuff... Mom, I'm sorry. Kyle? Kyle, where are you?"
Kyle's cries told Chris that he was hiding in the cabinets. He opened the one he thought had enough space for a seven year old. There Kyle was, crying over his knees. Chris knelt down and said, "I'm sorry, Kyle... We have to move."
Linda wouldn't dare to see her son for the last time, angry about how Martin treated him. Chris urged the kids out and got into a brand new car that he bought. The children were crying softly, and so was Chris. As he was backing from the driveway, he spotted the Createrra zooming unto the street. Chris geared quickly and drove from the street, making sure he didn't see his brother's shocked face in his mirrors anymore.
