A/N: I promise I'm not dead! I am just going to be busy the next few weeks assumingly, I am changing duty stations and I have to start packing next Monday. I'll manage to write the story in my notebook but give me a little time to type it in the computer and I'll do my best to get it posted as soon as possible. I made sure this was an extra long one compared to the other chapters due to my tardiness of posting last week and future week. All that aside, I hope you enjoy! In this chapter Delta is about 6 years old and the Nulls are 12, while Omega is not in the picture yet.

Chapter 5

The Null Brothers

###Logan's P.O.V

"Boys, get your bags packed, you're staying at Uncle Kal's tonight." Father called out on the first floor; I grabbed my backpack and neatly packed a pair of pajamas, a day pair of clothing for the next day and hygiene stuff. I sling my bag over my shoulder and made my way down the stairs to wait for my younger brothers.

"Father why are we staying the night at Uncle Kal's?" Jason asked as he reached the last step to the first floor.

"I have business meeting to attend to and I'll be out of town overnight. I'll be there to pick you guys up tomorrow night though. It'll be good to interact with your older cousins out of school too." Father said as he grabbed several of his own bags to put into the car.

I'm too scared to admit it aloud to father, but I know he works at least 2 jobs, he does the best he can to be with us. That's why he works at home but from time to time he has to go on these meetings that ranges on how many days he's gone for.

"Okay boys, let's get everything loaded in the car, don't want to keep Kal waiting." My brothers practically jumped into the car as I got up in the passenger seat and father drove off. The drive is normally a 20 minute drive. Uncle Kal lived on the beautiful side of the country and he's on a huge chunk of land.

The ride ends just as if we just started, Jason and Connor ran up to the door and knocked it. Almost immediately Uncle Kal opens the doors with a broad smile on his face.

"Ah, come on in boys go ahead and put your bags in the guest rooms, I have a fun day planned today."

"Brother, thank you for watching my sons with such a short notice. I'm sorry if my sons or I am of any burden, especially because you have 6 of your own."

"It's no problem at all Walon, my Nulls are no trouble to begin with. You know I am looking into adopting more."

"Are you sure Kal?" My boys can be a bit rowdy more on some days than others."

"I'm more than sure, now you go along get to your meeting; don't want to be late."

"Very well, thank you again brother."

"Anytime Walon," As father left for his car Uncle Kal shut the door. He turned to me and nodded up the stairs. "Go ahead and put your bags in the guest bedroom. You boys brought your swimsuits right?"

"Yes sir." I said

"You don't have to be so formal, Logan, you can call me Uncle, Kal, both combined or whatever you want… depending on what that is of course. Anyhow, go ahead and go change to your swimming suits and come back down and we'll head out to the swimming pond." I nod and made my way down the hallway and into the guest room Tim and I normally occupied. On the wall across from the bunk bed was a bathroom that was connected to Connor and Jason's room.

Tim was already on the bottom bunk reading one of the books he rented from the library. "Hey Tim, get changed into your swimsuit we're leaving for the swimming pond shortly." I said and he nodded back in acknowledgement and got up to change I set my bag down on the desk and take out my own placing my bag down on the desk. I quickly changed before Tim got out of the bathroom. Once he did leave I checked on Jason and Connor to find they were both already in their swimsuit.

"Alright boys, time to go." I heard Kal announced down the hall and the noise of doors opening and closing behind the Nulls.

The Nulls are 6 years older than us, though they seem like they're all tough and scary to the outside world; they're actually soft for those they like. Thankfully my brothers and I are on their good side and they're very fun to play with.

I make my way down the stairs with my brothers in tow. Mereel was the first Null to greet us.

"Ah, if it isn't the Vau brothers, how've the bullies been on you?"

"A lot less hostile thanks to you guys." I said and Mereel just waved his hand to dismiss the thanks.

"It was nothing, can't let low-life scum bully our young cousins." Mereel said and got a couple agreements from his brothers.

"Alright, now that we have everyone lets head out." Uncle Kal said walking out the back door with a cooler dragging behind him.

"Hey Connor, Jason, I bet I can beat you to the pond." Mereel said playfully.

"You're on!" both brothers said in unison and the three ran off. Of course Mereel was holding back some speed so they wouldn't be left in the dust.

"Father, I can pull the cooler for you." Ordo said by Kal's side and Kal just shook his head.

"This is the day for you boys to relax and have fun with your younger cousins. I might've budged if it was a different day, but I will refuse today everytime. So please don't keep trying to ask." Uncle Kal said nicely without raising his voice. Ordo remained silent but stuck to Kal's side all the way to the cliffside of the pond.

"Oh no, you beat me, whatever will I do?" Mereel playfully whined and stood close to the cliff edge, whether on purpose or not. Connor and Jason took advantage of the fact and made an attack by trying to push him off. However, before he lost complete footing he grabbed both brothers and they fell into the deep pond below. Once they breached the surface they burst out laughing.

An hour into swimming and noticed Tim hasn't joined us at all in the fun. Mereel also takes notice and starts creeping over to his spot on the blanket. He quickly took the book out of Tim's hands and threw it to the side. Mereel then picked Tim up before he had time to react; and ran to the edge and jumped into the water once more below. Tim came up coughing and breathing deeply.

"What was that for?" he asked incredulously

"It was about time that you joined us for a little fun, you can read anytime."

"You could've asked me to join."

"Nah that would be too boring, this way was a lot more fun." Mereel said cheekily, then Kal came into view with two paper plates stacked high with sandwiches.

"Who wants some sandwiches?" it was as if he called out that there was a shark in the water; everyone rushed out and up the staircase to the numerous blankets scattered across the grass.

After we got back from the pond almost everyone was tuckered out from the fun long day.

"Do you boys want to have a bonfire?" Uncle Kal asked

"Yes please!" everyone said in unison.

After the bonfire was made and a couple s'mores were eaten, stories were then told among the group.

"Ever hear the story of how we met father?" My brothers and I shook our heads and Mereel smiled. "Well then here we go."

### 3rd person (story)

Kal had a pretty hard day at work and had to walk through dark alleys to get back to his apartment. Normally there was no trouble, until one night there was a mugger that had the intention of robbing maybe worse. Then 6 street kids came out with various weapons. Kal thought he was done for, he didn't think he could fight off children; they looked so young, they couldn't be older than 8 years old.

To Kal's surprise the kids weren't after him, they were after the attacker. The man looked at the possibility of how likely he was to succeed. Apparently it was very low since he scurried off like a dog with his tail between his legs.

"How old are you boys?" Kal asked once the man was out of earshot.

"6, sir." one boy said out of the half dozen of them.

"Don't you have any parent or family?" Kal asked and the boys shook their heads. "Well, you do now, come on with me."

### Logan's P.O.V

"And the rest is history." Mereel said

"That isn't how the story goes." Kom'rk said

"Oh, if you know it so much why don't you tell the story?"

"You know what? I will."

### 3rd person (Story)

Kal always worked very late shifts in a dingy neighborhood. He lives paycheck to paycheck and he grows closer and closer to bankruptcy. He always had to drive far from his home because this was the only job that took him.

Everytime he passed the 6 street kids something ached in his chest. Something just didn't feel right, leaving those boys on the cold street. He just couldn't afford to take them in and that hurt him even worse.

One night he couldn't take it anymore. He took them back to his apartment and gave them a hot meal and warm clothes he had stored away. They were very large on them but it'll do in the meantime. By morning he came into the very small living room he saw the 6 kids curled onto each other in deep sleep. It was probably their first real night sleep in a long time. Kal knew he wouldn't be able to let them go after this.

They woke up a couple hours later, some had looks of confusion and some looked scared until they remembered where they were.

"Good morning boys, hope you slept well. I just finished making eggs and bacon, if you would like some?" Kal asked and the boys nodded with excitement. Kal left for the kitchen with a simple smile on his face and came back with 6 plates and handed them to each of the boys.

The day goes by and one of the boys hands Kal a dirty greasy duffle bag. Kal opened the bag to reveal stacks of money that almost filled to the top of the bag.

"How did you get all this money?" Kal asked the boy in complete shock.

"It doesn't matter, just know we didn't steal it from good people." Kal wasn't going to question the boy further but also didn't want to steal money from these kids. "We won't be taking the bag back, it's now yours. Take it as a payment from your generosity."

The boy then had a look of sadness as he turned for the door with the rest of the boys.

"Wait, I never said you had to leave, you boys can stay as long as you want."

### Logan's P.O.V

"That's the actual story." Kom'rk explained

"No it's not, it clearly isn't." Mereel argued.

"That's how I remember it." Kom'rk growled toward Mereel.

"You're both wrong boys." Uncle Kal said shaking his head with a smile on his face. "Here's how it really went."

### 3rd person (I promise last time)

Kal always worked the night shift, he got paid decently but there was just a hole in his chest, something was missing. He felt so lonely his two older brothers had successful relationships and had great jobs too.

One night just seemed to change that. The local store he worked at was completely packed for some reason so he had no choice but to park in an alley nearby. Thankfully he only had a 4 hour shift that night instead of a 6.

Apparently a bunch of sales was going on and it was only during the night shift. His shift went by surprisingly quick, he made his way back to his car; but was stopped short as he felt a sharp blade against his back.

"Turn around and have your hands above your head." a voice called out squeaking part way through. Kal had to pull back his laughter at the voice and had to hold it even more when he saw 6 kids. They can't be serious. "Give us your money." Kal couldn't keep his laughter at bay anymore which made the boys even angrier.

"Are you serious?" Kal said between laughter and got 6 glares toward him.

"Yes, we are." one of the kids gritted through their teeth.

"Look, kids I don't have time for this or the money to give even if I wanted to. I have to get back to my house it's really late." the boy with the knife tried to attack but Kal easily got it away from him. He then left in his car and kept seeing the kids on his way to work and he kept trying to avoid them. Ever since that night, his heart was telling him that he had to help the boys, they were never seen with a parent or guardian and that worried Kal.

One night he stopped in front of the boys and got out locking the door behind him and walked up to them noticing healing cuts and bruises around their eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"Why do you care?" one of the boys sneered up at him.

"It pains me to see little boys bruised and cut up like you are. Even if the same boys tried to mug me." Kal said with crossed arms one of the boys sighed and stepped in front of the others.

"We are forced to make income for our-" the boy scowled at whatever thought was in his mind "mother, if we don't bring a certain amount back we are beaten. It's the only way we can really survive out on the street."

"You're mother did this to you?" Kal asked in pure shock.

"She's not our actual mother, she forces everyone to call her that, or whoever is under her 'protection'." one of the other boys spat making Kal's gut twirl.

"Well, I won't give you money, but I can give you something better." Kal said gaining a couple confused looks as he motioned for them to get into the car.

They get back to the house and immediately he has the boys take baths to get the dried blood and grime off of them. Kal couldn't believe that there are horrible beings out there that would hurt poor children. It was hard at first for the boys to trust him completely; but he gave them new names that they could be proud to be called. It took a little while for them to trust him and he was glad when they finally did, children should always have at least a guardian to care and love them.

Kal finally felt whole again, he found he didn't need a romantic relationship to keep him happy, that these boys are all he really needs.

### Logan's P.O.V

"That my boys, is the true story." Uncle Kal said with a slight smile on his face as he looked around the bonfire he noticed his boys and nephews were having a hard time staying awake; which made his smile grow a little further. "Now might be a good time to go to bed, hmm?"

The next night Father came to pick us up and it was hard leaving, but we left knowing it wouldn't be the last time they get to see them. We were all just excited for their next sleepover.