So I have completely dreaded having to write this chapter and it came out surprisingly easy. Which disturbs me slightly.

Does this remind anyone else of Lilo and Stitch?

Thanks for the support guys, love you all! 3


Today was technically Altair's day off, but that didn't stop work from finding him. He scurried about his little home that he shared with four obnoxious boys, still only in his pajamas, and cleaned. Today was the dreaded day that the devil Sofian would be coming for a home visit and Altair had to get this place spotless by the time he arrived at two. It was nine-thirty now and Altair had hardly managed to make a dent in the mounds of trash and seemingly permanent stains that plagued his home. He cursed himself for what felt like the millionth time that day for putting off the work till the last minute and not working on it sooner. But between caring for the boys, working at two different jobs, shopping, and cooking, he really hadn't felt like adding cleaning to his list of duties. And now he was paying the price.

There was a knock at the door and Altair was clutched with a momentary panic. Sofian wasn't supposed to be here yet, why would he be here, it couldn't be him yet. Altair made swift progress across the room and threw the door open. He was surprised to find his friends standing there. Maria led the troupe that consisted of Rauf and the Al-Sayf brothers.

"What are you guys doing here?" Altair asked, dumbstruck.

"We're here to help you, stupid." Maria said, aiming a light punch at his arm. Altair was too sluggish in his dodge and took the meager impact. She grinned at him. Altair just stared.

His friends were here to help him. For some reason the action was completely unexpected and oddly touching to Altair. For all his life he had relied only on himself to accomplish the things he desired, often refusing assistance, and now these people closest to him were offering their help in his darkest hour. A prideful, shallow part of Altair demanded that he shove his friends away and do it on his own, but he knew better than to listen to that part right now. Instead he gave a small smile and nodded.

"Thanks." he said, calmly humbled.

"Let's get to work!" Rauf piped up.

At his command, everyone surged into the house and started helping, even Malik. Altair gave him a curious look, confused as to why the older Al-Sayf had bothered coming and he was silently answered with a surprisingly tender look from those brown eyes. Altair wondered if he knew something about what he himself was going through right now, or had Malik just decided to act out of the kindness of his heart? Both seemed uncharacteristic motives from what Altair knew of the man, but, he was forced to remind himself, he didn't know much of the other. Either way everyone helped in making the house presentable, even the boys pitched in where they could and were shockingly helpful.

First they started with the inside of the low building. The living room was picked up and cleaned, then the kitchen, the boys' room, the bathroom, and finally Altair's own room, something he insisted he do by himself, but Maria ended up helping anyway. After that the laundry room was uncluttered, then the garage, which was an awful mess and they only managed to tame it slightly not entirely eradicate the mess, and eventually the cleaning crew felt comfortable to move on to the exterior. The boys were in charge of picking up toys and garbage while the adults cleaned the rest. Altair even had time to mow the small lawn that adorned the front yard.

It was one-forty-seven when all of the sterilization was complete. Kadar lit a candle he had found in a cupboard and the living room was graced with the smell of fresh cupcakes, which Desmond promptly tried to eat. It was only then that everyone was satisfied by the building.

With the work done, the group readied themselves to leave and gathered by the front door. Altair surveyed the friends that had come and helped and stated again the gratitude that filled his heart.

"Thanks a lot, you guys." he said sincerely.

"Aw, I haven't seen you so choked up since you watched Bambi when you were seven." Maria cooed, giving Altair's cheek a pinch. He shook out of the assault and frowned at her.

"Don't get used to it."

Everyone chuckled despite the menace in Altair's voice and he couldn't help but let his anger deflate quickly. The gathered company bid their farewells and took their leave, each driving off in the respective cars they'd arrived in. With the visitors dispersed, Altair sat all the boys down on the couch and gave them a firm of speech of behaving while Sofian was here "or else."

The ring of the rarely used doorbell had Altair's gut clenching at two o'clock sharp. That was him. As quietly as he could manage, so as not to be heard by the man just outside the front door, he shooed the little boys off to their room. He took a moment to compose himself, straightening his white hoodie, before answering the door. The dreaded Abass Sofian stood there in a pure black suit and tie, looking very businesslike with his briefcase and hands clasped behind his back.

"Mr. Ibn-La'Ahad." he greeted curtly.

"Mr. Sofian." it was physically difficult for Altair to force the respective title out of his mouth.

Without being invited, Sofian brushed past Altair and strode right in. Altair grit his teeth in annoyance. This would be a long afternoon.

The first thing Sofian demanded was that Altair give him a tour of the house, which the guardian did, albeit begrudgingly. Sofian was shown each room, even Altair's own upon insistence, all the while taking notes and making comments, most of them negative. Altair became more and more nervous as the visit went on. Next Sofian sat Altair down in the living room and asked him questions about the boys, Altair's job, his financial problems, and plans for the future. Altair answered them all to the best of his abilities, but he constantly felt like he was saying everything wrong. Then the soulless, as Altair was convinced he was by this point, social worker asked, or rather demanded to speak to the boys. Alone. Altair wasn't happy or comfortable with that in the slightest, but he complied. The boys came quickly to Altair's call and acted remarkably calm and polite. Altair had to wait in another room while Sofian interviewed the children first all together then one by one. When Altair was called back to Sofian, alone this time, he walked over with tight nerves.

"I have thought long and hard about this, Altair, and I have come to a conclusion." Sofian said coldly, staring Altair dead in the eye with those heartless black eyes.

"Oh?" was all that managed to escape Altair's mouth.

"You're irresponsible, arrogant, and uncaring towards your brothers. You have significant financial problems, and have lost a job this week, accused of theft."

Altair forced himself to remain silent throughout Sofian's lecture, even though his fists were clenched and shaking with suppressed rage.

"One of your brothers was emitted to the hospital only yesterday, your house is unsafe for such young children to be running about, and you're lazy."

Altair frowned, not sure what that had to do with anything. What the hell did Sofian know about him?

"As I result, I deem you unfit to raise these children."

Altair went numb, his brain blanking for several long seconds. Unfit? But...

As soon as the shock washed over him, it turned to anger. Altair re-clenched his fists that had fallen open and took a step closer to Sofian.

"Now you listen to me!" he bellowed, his voice rising without his consent. "I do every God damn thing I can for my brothers and I would do anything to keep them safe! You can'ttake them away from me! We're family and we've got to stick together, don't give me some bullshit about me being 'unfit'! They're happy here, aren't they? They're fed and kept warm and taken care of and that's all that should matter to you snobby stuck up asshole social workers!"

Sofian blinked slowly, not seeming to absorb Altair's words.

"I'll have the paperwork sent in and by this time next week I'll return for the boys." he said in that same bitter tone as always.

Altair was pushed to the side and Sofian stalked across the room, calmly opening the door. He looked back to Altair, glaring with his black eyes.

"Good day, Mr. Ibn-La'Ahad." And with that, he was gone, leaving Altair alone and sadder than he'd ever been before.