Disclaimer: I don't own the Hardys (the dad included). They're their own property and that of WWE. I own all others.

"Kids!" I called. "It's time to wash up for supper!"

"All right!" cheered the boys, racing to the bathroom to wash up. Matt and Sindel walked in; Matt with the steaks, Sindel with Ray. She looked as though she'd been crying, but I shrugged it off, having noticed that Matt's shirt was somewhat soaked. They must have confided in one another. Good. At least one son was guaranteed to like her.

Jeff and Beth came walking in with the four rambunctious kids. They all sat down and I smiled at my grandchildren. They were five in a million.

Haku had almost white, shoulder-length blonde hair and amber eyes. He was tall for a nine-year-old, reaching 4'11". His skin was rather pale, unusual for the amount of time he spent in the sun. His face always seemed to hold an edge of mystery.

Kalub had short, blue-black hair, tan skin, and charming royal blue eyes. He stood about the height of Matt's upper thigh. His twin sister, Kamiel, was much the same height, maybe half-an-inch shorter. Her blue-black hair was down to her waist. Her royal blue eyes always held a look of curiosity, though she rarely acted on it. Unlike her brother, her skin was fair. They were adorable for four-year-olds.

Matthew, a child driven to always please his mother, had short, fire-red hair. Like Sindel, he had dark-brown, almost black eyes. His skin was as tanned as his mother's and he was about three inches taller than Matt's knees. He was almost above average for a two-year-old.

Raymond was roughly eleven months old. He was tan as his mother, but his eyes were emerald green. His hair, so far, was growing in a matching color to Sindel's. He was a prize.

"Can I say the prayer, Grandpa?" asked Kamiel. I smiled.

"Of course you can," I told her, noting my sons' surprise. True, I was almost never as kind nor gentle with them, but they didn't have the fragile mindset she does. They had led somewhat charmed lives in comparison.

"Thank you Lord for the food we are about to eat," she began. "Thank you for protecting our family today. I pray for all the injured that they will heal up and get better… Anyway, bless this food to our bodies' use. Amen."

"Amen," chorused all. Then the food got passed along. The meal was lively and passed without mishap. Sindel then got the kids sat down to watch their nightly movie, Bambi 2 that night. Now, it was time to get serious.

***

We were all sitting in the kitchen, having done all of the dishes. Now was the time for my least favorite game: Question and Answer. I looked at my new family calmly.

"Now would be the time to ask questions so that everything's out on the table," Dad said. Matt, Jeff, and Beth nodded. Beth turned to me.

"Wh… How exactly did you come to be their sister?" she asked, asking the main question on their minds. I sighed.

"Point-blank," I began. "Dad got drunk and met my drunken mother and canoodling was the least of their activities. Nine months later, I popped out. Mom called Dad and Dad said it would be best if she kept me. Thus my Mom's husband was fooled into believing I was his child and you two remained blissfully unaware of the events of that time. Alan's name may be on my birth certificate, but Mom made sure that I knew who my father was. Unfortunately, plans were changed due to certain recent events, thus, we have met."

"What events?" asked Jeff. Dad and I exchanged glances. We were afraid that question was going to come up.

"I fear you won't like the answer to that, considering what all it entails," I answered slowly. He gestured for me to continue. I took a deep breath and looked him in the eyes. "My family is dead, murdered for some unknown reason. The only reason I am not among them is because I was on my way to Clavo's with Kalub and Kamiel, the other three being with my best friend, Mini-me, at the time. My adoptive family and my biological family are gone. I had nowhere to go and no support system."

"That's when she called me," Dad continued. "She told me what had happened. I immediately got her cleared to come live with me. No sooner did she get here was it revealed that Clavo, too, had been murdered. She has contacted her friend, Tiburone, but has not revealed her whereabouts. He has assured her that he and his men will do their best to track down the killers and find the truth."

"So are we in danger now?" asked Beth.

"As far as we can guess, no," I answered. "But there's still that tiny possibility of a 'yes'."

"And I chose to protect her to the best of my ability, though I believe it's been quite the other way around," Dad added. "She may be my daughter, but at times, I feel that I am the one playing the child here."

I blushed.

"Is that a bad thing?" I asked sheepishly. Dad roared with laughter, totally destroying the grim mood.

"No, child," he said. "Not at all."

I smiled.

"Any other questions?" I asked. No one said a word. "I'm taking the silence and your expressions as a 'yes' but you're afraid of the answer."

Again, nothing. Then…

"What are your interests, your passions?" asked Matt. I smiled.

"Music, history, literature, and Mortal Combat," I answered. That surprised them. "Ever heard of the Ramble?"

Matt and Jeff shook their heads, but Beth nodded, going pale.

"It's an underground fighting arena, one where there are only three ways to win: K.O., complete immobilization of your opponent, or the death of your opponent," I explained, enjoying the fact that my honesty was causing the color to drain from Beth's face. "I've been the reigning champion for the past three years. I started fighting there when I was fourteen."

"And how old are you?" asked Jeff.

"Nineteen next month," I answered, then checked the time. "That's as much as I can do right now. The kids needs baths and such. Dad, can Haku bathe in your bathroom again while I give Kalub and Matthew theirs?"

"Of course," he answered, then picked up Ray. "And I'll go ahead and bathe this little wanderer for you."

"Thanks, Dad," I said and left to grab the all ready scattering children.

***

"Our sources say your friend was not among the ones slain," Axe, leader of the Mala Noché, said to Tiburone. "Do you know whether our Viper is in a safe place?"

"As far as I know, she is safely living in North Carolina," he answered. "She hung up before I could pin-point her exact location."

"At least she's far from here," Axe stated. "It appears to me, that this attack was pre-meditated and was meant to make a statement, to show off. This family was targeted, not selected at random. How did your friend escape this?"

"She received an emergency call from Clavo Samheine," Tiburone stated. "Something about needing a step-in family for a dinner that night."

Axe nodded.

"Do you believe Viper will continue to be hunted?" Tiburone asked. Axe sat back and sighed.

"I believe she will, Tiburone," he answered. "This killer seems to want that family line dead… I'm sorry…"

Tiburone nodded gravely.

"Can we stop them?" he asked miserably. Axe smiled and put a hand on his shoulder.

"Tiburone," he said softly. "We protect our own."