Dad and Papa were delightfully surprised, they couldn't stop wasn't very elaborate, Echo's skills were limited, and Rory's even more. But Echo had managed to make some hamburgers, while Rory made Macaroni and Cheese, and they heated up some baked beans.

Their fathers were happy, so they felt like they had created a banquet fit for kings.

After dinner was their normal free time while Papa and Dad bickered lovingly over what movie they would watch as a family. Sometimes Echo would find an out of hte way spot where she could watch them goof around. Listen to them talk about their kids.

She knew today would probably be interesting, especially with what happened that morning. So she grabbed her blanket, her baby blanket according her fathers, and went to her usual spot as her fathers sat beside each other, looking through the DVDs.

"Echo's getting to be a real performer." Papa said, kissing Dad's neck.

Dad grinned, "Nico, come on. The kids are still around."

Papa just smiled and kept kissing Dad's neck. Echo was used to watching her fathers show affection to each other like this. It was just another thing that reminded her how lucky she was to have a family that was together. Parents that still loved each other.

Dad just relaxed, leaning slightly on Papa. "We're so lucky, I mean, our kids are just so skilled and good. I mean, when I was Echo's age, I was a mess."

"Your mom didn't take care of you." Papa growled, arms going around Dad.

"Yes, she did." Dad flinched away from Papa as he responded softly.

"Not the way she should have," Papa pulled him back close, "You deserved so much better than what you 're raising our kids with what we lacked. We've always said that."

Dad nodded slowly, "I'm still worried. About raising my girls."

"Our girls."

"Our girls, I mean, when we first had them we always said that Meg would help us with the harder stuff. The stuff that we will never understand." Dad grabbed a few DVDs off the shelf and sort of looked at them.

Papa shook his head at the movies, "I know. We should have planned better, especially after she died."

"I mean, what will we do when the girls start liking people?" Dad frowned at the shelf of DVDs. "Or Declan for that matter."

"We'll do our best. Besides, I'm pretty sure Echo already has her first crush."

"No, not Echo." Dad's shoulders slumped. "Who?"

"I'm not sure, but she's already stopped talking about her friends with us."

Echo winced, deciding that she would have to act more normal. Last thing she wanted was for her fathers to find out she had a crush on Gareth Valdez.

"We've made it clear that there's no dating until they're sixteen, right?"

"Yeah, I think we beat that horse to death." Dad rubbed his neck, "There's something else we haven't talked about."

"Oh?"

"Summer."

"Were you thinking a vacation?"

Dad shook his head, "No, I was thinking that Echo is twelve. Most campers start at camp from anywhere between nine and thirteen, usually. And we always said twelve."

Papa sighed, "I know…but with Declan…what if something is seriously wrong?"

"I don't know. Table this conversation until after the tests?"

Papa nodded.

"Also, Echo's class is having Career Day on Monday. She's worried." Dad lovingly traced Papa's jawline.

Papa winced, "Oh crap. I told her I would go, didn't I?"

"Yes, and you know how important our support is." Dad almost cooed.

"That means I have to interact with other parents, deal with the fact that I'm gay, try not to embarrass our daughter, and miss being there for Declan."

"I have the time off for the tests, Declan will be fine. They're non-invasive tests, and I can tell you how they go. This is important to Echo."

Papa still looked reluctant, "Are you sure you don't want to do it instead and I can be with Declan for the tests?"

Echo dropped her gaze to her hands.

"Nico," Dad said reproachfully.

"You know I suck monumentally at being sensitive to other peoples kids, and I hate interacting with the other parents at this school."

Echo had heard enough, she got up to go to her room.

"Besides, you're her full dad. I'm just her adopted one."

Echo froze, hugging herself.

"Nico!" There was the sound of someone falling.

"I was joking! Mostly, sort of. I mean, technically it's true. Of course I'll go to her career day."

Echo couldn't help it she stepped out, "I don't want you to!"

Both of her fathers looked at her, startled, and looking like deer in the headlights.

"E-echo?" Papa looked horrified.

She was almost in tears, "You obviously don't want to go, so I don't want you! Either of you!" She fled to her room, closing the door and pulling the dresser in front of it. She then climbed out the window with her bow and sword and ran down the street, jumping the fence, tossing a stone at Gareth's bedroom window and then climbing into the fort.

Gareth was out a few moments later, "Hey, what are you doing here? It's Saturday, isn't this a big family day for…you…are crying, why? What's wrong?" He quickly sat next to her and put an arm around.

"I'm overreacting. I know I'm overreacting, but…" She covered her face with her hands as the tears started slipping out, "How could he say that?"

Gareth rubbed her back, not saying anything since he probably still had no idea what was going on.

"How could he say he wasn't my father?" She managed to choke out.

Gareth froze momentarily, "Who?"

"Papa…Nico." She wiped at her face, "Am I not good enough, or something?"

"E-echo, that's crazy…"

"Then why do I always feel like I'm not good enough? Why do I always feel like I'm last? I just wanted him to show up for my stupid career day!"

Gareth pulled her into a real hug, "Shhh, you're not last. You are more than good …shh."

She cried into him for a while, losing track of time. She knew she was overreacting. She felt ridiculous. But it just…stung. She couldn't stand it. "I've been trying so hard to be helpful, to do a good job and help take care of my siblings. I've tried to take up as little of their time as possible so that they have more time to take care of everything else. And I'm still not good enough! I'm never good enough."

Finally, Gareth picked her up and carried her out, muttering something about not being equipped for this.

She hiccuped and told him she was fine, to just put her down, she would go home.

He didn't listen to her.

Calypso was on the phone, but she looked at them with relief, "It's okay, she's here. Bye." She hung up.

Leo was already coming over, taking me from Gareth, "Hey, alondra, cariño." He said softly, setting me down on the couch between himself and Calypso.

"Honey, your fathers are worried sick about you! And you should have told us she was here!" Calypso scolded Gareth.

"Sí, mamá, pero estaba un poco ocupado." Gareth responded, sitting at her feet and taking Echo's hand. "Ella dice que no siente que nunca será lo suficientemente bueno para sus padres. Dice que siente que es la última de la que cuidan."

Echo knew they were talking about her, but she didn't care, she just cried. She couldn't stop herself, despite how ridiculous she felt.

Leo hugged her tightly, "Oh, Echo."

Calypso pulled the girl into her arms, "Come here, sweetheart. I know it's been rough for you, the past few months."

Echo tried to let them comfort her, but she just…she felt like she had been hit with a sword and that it had cut to the bone.

She wasn't surprised when her fathers were let in by Leo, and both of them came over, trying to talk to her. To get her to talk to them. And she knew it was petty.

But she refused to talk to them, even when she finally agreed to go only went because of Declan. She couldn't even look at her fathers without tearing couldn't listen to them. They tried to talk to her as they walked home, but she ran home and locked herself in her room, ignoring her sisters as they tried to check on her.

Ignoring her Dad when he tried to get her to come out for the movie.

"Echo?" Her Papa pleaded at the door, "Echo, please? Just let me talk to you…"

She blared her music. Then curled up on her bed and tried to shut out the world.

Spanish Translation:

Leo: Lark, sweetie/honey.

Gareth: Yes, Mom, but I was a little busy. She says she does not feel like she'll ever be good enough for her parents. She says she feels like the last one they care for.