Hallie and Randall had talked all week on how they were going to handle Mason. It was better that they went over to her parents' house to deal with this. There were too many other tenants around where Hallie lived.

Cassie and Hallie agreed on that Hallie was coming over to talk about something important with them both. Cassie picked both of them up.

When they got to the house, Randall vanished. This was most likely not going to be pretty.

Once inside, they all sat down together in the living room. Randall stood by, waiting for his cue, though he did lower his body to the floor while waiting.

"So, Hallie, what did you want to talk to us about?" Mason began.

"Well, Mom already knows what it's about, but we needed to talk to you together." Hallie said.

"Alright. What is it?"

"Dad, I know you'll more than likely get mad at this, but you have to know. You know when I told you about Randall?" Hallie began.

"Yes. What about him?"

"He… he came back." Cassie said.

"What?!" Mason said sharply. "We should be preparing to stop him!"

"Dad! We can't!" Hallie said.

"I'm already here." Randall said, appearing.

Mason couldn't believe it. "You are not allowed near my family, after what you pulled!" He began getting up and ready to fight the other younger male.

"Dad, wait! We can explain!" Hallie said.

"Explain what? That's he's a danger to this whole city?! To us?! To your child?!"

"I am not a danger to the city. I will never hurt my child either. Or Hallie." Randall said.

"You already did hurt her! I don't want you near her or the baby! I will gladly let Hallie live here again." Mason said.

"Dad, we are already living together. Only for a week. He just got back. We made up. And Randall has something to tell you. Just let him explain what happened." Hallie demanded.

"Why should I? If he hurt you once, he could do it again."

"Yeah, there will be times when I need my space. It's the same with everyone. But I won't take it out on her. I never did hit her or anything like that. I know I took her for granted though. But I still loved her and I wasn't going to give up on her without a fight." Randall said.

Randall went on explain all that happened in the past and he was getting tired of repeating all the details while keeping a wary eye on Mason. But he knew there would be more times he would have to tell the tale to others. His old rivals and especially to the CDA and a court of law eventually. But he needed to rally his supporters first and get his health back.

Mason was indeed angry over all this, but he listened to what Randall said.

"It was my boss who was the real danger to the city. He made me build that machine. And now that that is in the past, I want to start over with my life and start something else. I know scaring is out of the picture, but I will find something."

"No one is going to hire you for what you did. That is always going to linger on your record, no matter how much you try to change things." Mason said.

"I know and I will answer for my actions. I just need all the support I can get first and prove that I'm not who I was before. I want to be with Hallie and our son."

Mason could feel the sincerity and sorrow in Randall's voice. He could also see it in his body language. He was not being threatening in any way. He was more nervous, being all fidgety and changing some colors.

Mason could see that Randall did have one unique ability for a lizard like them. None of his family could change colors like that.

"Even if I do believe your story, Randall, you are going to have to work hard to earn our trust back. And if you EVER, do anything to hurt my daughter, or her child, you will be in extreme trouble, mister." Mason declared sternly.

"I won't. And I understand. I won't take her for granted again. I know that she was faithful to me. And I want to be the same for her and you guys." Randall said calmly.

Mason still had many doubts about Randall right now, but in time, maybe he could be trusted again, but he would be keeping an eye on him.

They all had dinner together and things were still sketchy even then. But no one left or came home with injuries and that was the big victory for right now. At least Hallie's parents knew he was back and his story. But only time would truly tell if they welcomed him back completely.

…

Randall continued to talk to and read to his egg every day so the child would know his voice while Hallie was working and he checked every day, very carefully for any cracks to see if it was hatching. He hoped it wasn't dead or wouldn't hatch prematurely.

It had been a week since the parental reunion, and on this Friday, Hallie came home with news that she had contacted his family and they were going to have a reunion too.

Randall still didn't feel quite ready to face them. He knew his brother and his wife would look on him with shame. They were coming over to tomorrow for lunch. Hallie had given them her address.

When they came over the next day, Saturday, all first impressions were just standing still and not talking.

Randall was near the hallway while his brother's family was nearer to the entrance.

"I know it's been a long time since you all saw each other, but we must all be a family." Hallie said.

"How have you been?" Randall finally asked.

"Busy. With my job and with my son." Ned said. "You?"

"Trying to start over here after getting back after four months and trying to get started as a father."

Hallie was glad to see the brothers talking.

"Who's this, Dad?" Rex asked.

"This is my brother, Rex. Your Uncle Randall." Ned said.

Rex was suspicious of the stranger. He still stuck close to his parents.

"How about we go in the other room, Rex. You can meet your new cousin, though he's not really here yet, but you can see his room." Hallie invited the child away.

Rex had gotten used to Hallie and happily followed her. She was wanting to give the other adults time to talk.

Rex saw the blue room. "Where's my cousin?" He asked.

"He's in here. He'll be here soon, but not ready yet." Hallie said.

Rex saw an egg in the incubator. "You have any toys for him?"

"Yes. You can play with them if you want to. I know they are for babies, but it's all we have right now."

Hallie proceeded to play with Rex.

Out in the living room, Randall took the chair and his brother and Marissa took the couch. It was an awkward silence for awhile. Then Randall began.

"I know I've been one hell of a rotten brother for a long time, Ned. But I am ready to change my ways. I've been starting over."

"How could you have done what you did to a child though?" Marissa demanded.

Randall proceeded to tell the story over again. It was still hard to tell it.

"I won't ever do it again, I promise. And I know it'll take time for you all to get to know the new me. Or if trusting me again."

"You got that right, bro." Ned said.

Soon, Hallie and Rex came out of the nursery and they were happy as could be.

"So how was Rex?" Marissa asked.

"Just a little angel." Hallie replied. "He can't wait to meet his cousin in a few weeks."

"Well, I fixed us some sandwiches a bit ago. Shall we have lunch now?" Hallie said.

"Alright." Ned said.

Ned's family was alright with Hallie, but they were all eyeing Randall carefully. He was eyeing them back too, though he tried to keep on looking at Hallie to keep from feeling so nervous.

Hallie knew things were going to be tense, but this was only the first step in Randall connecting with his family all over again.

Later, when they were getting ready to leave, Ned whispered to his brother, "You have found yourself a great girl, Randall. Don't blow it with her."

"I won't. I nearly did so long ago, but I know I won't now."

"We'll be getting together again soon. Let us know when the egg hatches."

"We will."

"See ya soon." Marissa said.

"Bye, Aunt Hallie!" Rex said.

"Bye, Rex."

The others all weren't expecting that.

"I told him he could call me Aunt Hallie." She said.

"Okay." Randall said.

"Bye." Ned said and he and his family left.

Randall let out a deep breath. "What a day."

"Yeah. And to think we could get even more that way when our son gets older."

Though he was excited for it, he still wasn't ready entirely. He just hoped that he was preparing himself fully.

Hallie could see her boyfriend was antsy about something. "Is it about the baby?"

"Yes. Am I going to know what to do to handle his needs? How to hold him? Calm him down?"

"I know, a lot of this is scary for me too. We'll work it out together. We'll find out what our son likes and doesn't like."

"We still need a name for him."

"Yeah, and we only want the best. And our own first names are like battle names, strong ones. Maybe his should be of that variety too." Hallie suggested.

"That is a good idea." Randall agreed.

"And now that we have our families settled on that you're back, there's still two others that need to know and you really need to talk to them."

Randall knew who she meant: his old rivals.

"I don't know if I can face them, Hallie. They might call the CDA first thing on me."

"I'll be there with you. You need all the support you can get."

"Thanks. Have they ever been here before?"

"It's been awhile. All we did was hang and watch movies. Mike always has Celia with him."

"Yeah, good he has a girl of his own, but I just hope Sullivan wasn't going to try to take you for his own."

"Being the new CEO, I don't think he has time for a relationship anyway. But I am yours 100%, Randall." She hugged him and kissed his face.

He smiled at her. "I just need time to be able to see them after what we just did with my family."

"Sure. Maybe in another week?"

"How about two. I just want more time to be with you alone, or if our families stop by again."

"We do need to get them together sometime anyway."

"I know and it will be soon."

Randall wanted to be able to enjoy his freedom for as long as he could with the girl he loved. He knew he could end up being put in jail for a long time because of his actions.

How do you guys think the reunions are going so far?