Chapter 23

After a healthy spar session, Garou walked side by side with his new father in law.

Chuck took a look around and nodded his approval. "I got to know, how the hell you ended up with so many kids! Not to mention, they ain't that old but they are all grown up for the most part…"

Melee explained as best she could to her father about how it all happened, she also told him about her abilities to absorb powers and strength of others. "I have one from a hero named Zombieman, he can't die… so I think that's what has saved me when I give birth…" she explained.

"All of 'em here are yours?" he asked curiously. His eyes looked about, but he paused at the Sweet Six. Then suddenly, he moved too fast to be seen.

SMASH

Amai Mask was in the dirt in a prostrating position. "STAY THERE BOY!" he ordered with a roar.

It made the whole family jump to say the least, the six were starting to look nervous as Amai remained on the ground. "I can explain…"

"LIKE HELL YOU CAN EXPLAIN PRETTY BOY!" Chuck snapped back. "Stay there until I say you move,"

Amai kept his head to the ground as Garou froze, his voice was quite commanding, even he felt nervous!

Chuck then went over to the six, looking them over before he turned to Melee. "I want an explanation," he said.

She nodded. "The house of evolution… they have been after the family for a while, they are looking for perfect genetic samples to use, for what, I don't know. They managed to find my human DNA some how and cloned me. Tricked Amai to mating with it and produced the six before you." She said gently. "But they are mine, dad!" she said proudly.

Chuck nodded. "I see two Brawlers here… huh… sumo wrestler huh?" he asked pointing to Tempest. "Last time there was one in the family that was… 56 years ago at least, your great uncle, until he gave it up to fight monsters…"

It stunned him to say the least. "I… I was," he said meekly. "I was released after they learned I turned serpent… we weren't born like this either, sir," he said respectfully.

Garou then noticed Chuck's eye oddly turning, almost zooming in and out on the kids. "Huh, you didn't tell me about that little nugget!" he said to Boros. "I can see the history of people by looken' at em?"

"I thought you knew considering you do observe Melee and Garou's time line!" he protested.

"Story checks out," he said and nodded his approval.

"I love what you did there by the way," whispered Yuuma.

He then went over the rest of the kids, he nodded his approval to them all, Goliath appeared thrilled when he found he really did take up more of his grandfather's appearance. When he nodded his approval, he turned to Snek. "Been a while hasn't it?" he asked of him. He smiled to his kids but paused. "Damn, I am sorry for your loss, Snek."

Snek appeared rather embarrassed. "Uh… yeah… thanks" he said meekly. "Hey look, I'm sorry…"

"Water under the bridge, you thought I was steppen' on your toes. Wasn't my intent… so… you went through come changed too didn't ya?"

Snek sighed and nodded. "Yeah, I became a monster too…" he muttered.

But Chuck's eyes narrowed. "Again, who the hell calls you that? You still fight and defend people?" he demanded.

Snek nodded. "I eat most threats now a days…"

"Then you're a hero… you all are… you in the ground I am still debating!" he stated and pointed to Amai.

"I can…"

"SHUT IT!" Chuck demanded as Amai jumped and fell silent once more.

Chuck then turned to Garou. "I've seen your history… the hell did you mellow out?" he demanded.

Garou smirked as he nudged Melee playfully. "Was going through my second monster phase… against my will… no one believe that I wasn't trying to turn, except for her. She helped me as best as she could, but then… I did made her what she is…" he couldn't resist the urge as he lowered his head. "I'm sorry I couldn't have protected her properly…"

He didn't move, after what happened with Amai, he didn't think it was a good idea until he knew it was safe. He suddenly felt a gently hand come on his shoulder. "Look at me when I speak to you," Chuck said and an oddly gently voice.

He raised his head up, there were tears coming out of Chuck's eyes. "You did what you needed to do, to save my baby girl… I could care less that it turned her like this. As long as she remained being Melee, I will always be proud of her. You did good,"

Garou was almost touched by it all. Then Chuck turned to Amai, he slowly approached up and said. "On your feet boy," in a venomous tone.

He snapped up off the ground and tried to stand tall before Chuck Brawler. "You got A LOT to make up for in my mind, you treated my little girl like SHIT when she worked for you. She would come home half the time tried out and crying for the HELL you put her through! She LIKED YA!" he protested.

Amai nodded. "I… liked her as well, but I took advantage of her kindness and her feelings towards me…"

"Damn straight you did, until I see otherwise, you're nothing more than scum to me." He said in a warning tone. His eyes then drifted to the six. "You must have at least manned up and raise…" he paused as he must have looked in the time line once more. "On your knees boy," he said in an angry tone.

Amai went back on the ground rather quickly, Chuck was then staring back at Garou. "You?" he demanded. "You raised these kids, kids that weren't even yours?" he asked.

Garou scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "I was against it at first, I thought it wasn't my concern… but Melee…" he said and his voice trailed off.

He turned to the six. "He treat you right?" he demanded.

"Like his own children," Titan said proudly. "We always tell people we are the sons and daughter of Garou!"

He nodded his approval, looking back at him, Chuck said. "You just went up a another level of respect in my book."

Melee was impressed. "Wow… Dad really likes you!"

"I know I'm not on the ground" he whispered back.

Chuck then turned to Boros. "Yah did this ol' man proud… I am glad you brought me back… granted, I didn't think I would be a hunk of metal and stuff… I don't even know half the stuff you did to bring me back…"

Boros laughed aloud and said it was nothing, but then he leaned over to Melee. "I have no idea what he says half the time…"