I finally finished the new chapter. I am sorry that it took so long. Unfortunately, I had quite a writer's block and needed ideas. But now I have finally done it. And don't worry, I'll keep writing. Only it can take a while. Therefore I spoil you with this new chapter. I hope you enjoy reading it.

Greetings Petit Erik

10.9.2022

The time had come. Jenny would fly to Germany to go to her follow-up appointment on Monday. She packed clothes and everything she needed into a suitcase, closed it and carried it downstairs to the anteroom. Then she went into the living room, where everyone was. She plopped down on the sofa and took a deep sigh.

"Are you okay?", asked Cudia worriedly, putting a hand on her arm.

She looked at him and nodded.

"Yeah, everything's fine. I just have to get used to being away from you guys again for a few days. Will be weird again."

"That's right. When are you coming back?"

"I'm flying back on Tuesday. I'll get back here in the evening."

"So we won't be alone as long as the days you were on vacation?", asked Robson, puppy-eyed.

Jenny smirked and replied: "No, don't worry. You're not alone for that long. And besides, there's company with you."

"Finally," Gant muttered, looking at Holly.

She smiled and snuggled up to him. Meanwhile, Jenny counted up in her mind whether she really had everything with her. She took her smartphone and wrote to the family group, with her parents and brothers, that she was very much looking forward to seeing everyone again. Her parents, in particular, were looking forward to it. They hadn't seen their daughter in a long time. But Jenny had also sent them pictures often. The boys had now accepted each other enough to take pictures with their Christines, children and Jenny. Jenny's parents were a bit puzzled by the phantoms but they had all accepted them immediately. And Jenny's parents were eager to come visit with her brothers. This time for Christmas. The boys were a little scared, but also looking forward to seeing their brothers again and finally meeting their parents. Meanwhile, the kids had grabbed Stolle's Twister blanket and were playing with it. To the joyful and enthusiastic cheers of their parents and others in the room. The positions their bodies were in was hilarious.

The first to fall over was Jake. He gasped, giggled and stayed on his back. Murphy got up and rolled him off the blanket, giggling. His son laughed louder and clung to his father. The latter sighed, picked up his son, sat back on the couch and Jake on his lap. The remaining three watched excitedly. Jake was sitting on his father's lap, but had slid all the way forward, so he had to hold him to keep him from falling off. He leaned back and looked sideways into his dad's face. Carefully, he raised his hand and traced his disfigurement. Murphy gasped softly and held his son's hand to his cheek. Jake looked at his father with his head tilted. The latter smiled, stroked his hand, and his son smiled. He hugged him and nuzzled his face into his neck. Murphy smiled and rested his deformed cheek in his son's soft hair. Charles, meanwhile, was determined to prove that, despite being the oldest of them all, he could still win. But he had done the math without Jack and Christian. Because the two of them were just as good. And the fact that Lewis let his son climb all over the place didn't necessarily help matters. Charles ended up losing as the second. He chuckled, got up from the floor and joined his parents. Kerik congratulated his son for third place and he hugged his father, who nestled his noseless face in his hair.

Meanwhile, on the field, it was Jack versus Christian. Jack's father sat on the far edge of his chair and looked without blinking at his son, inwardly praying that he would win. Anna looked at him and gently stroked his sparse, white, soft hair, trying to calm him down. That was quite difficult at the moment.

"Come on, Jack," he murmured softly.

He said it almost silently, but his son heard him. He was really trying hard to make his father proud. He looked at him and saw Lewis looking at him with almost pleading eyes. His disfigured face was tense and his single eyebrow was drawn together. Crawford grinned and started the final round. Cortes looked to Lewis and saw him staring at his son. In fact, he looked like he was going to explode at any moment. At that moment, there was a bang. Everyone looked up at the ceiling and saw that at that moment Christian had lost his footing and fallen over. Jack looked at his father and saw that he was looking at him with huge eyes. Then he started beaming, went to his son and hugged him tightly.

"Come upstairs with me," he whispered in his ear.

Jack nodded and together they went upstairs. Cortes grinned and hugged his son tightly.

"Ben can be really intimidating," Christian said.

"Why is that?" his father asked.

"He looked at me and Jack the whole time without blinking. It was a little weird."

"I almost think he was trying to get Jack to win. Even with just his eyes, he can be very persuasive."

"He can indeed. I almost think he can do telepathy."

Cortes laughed and replied: "Oh, it must be. Definitely."

"Hehe. Ben has mastered telepathy. I'll definitely have to tell him that."

His father laughed and hugged him. At that moment, Lewis and Jack came back into the living room. The former was still grinning and had his hands gently on his shoulders from behind. Jack grinned widely, ran to his mother and hugged her tightly. She smiled and looked at her phantom, whose eyes were shining with joy and he himself wore a smile on his normally always stern face. He sat down in his chair and Jack joined him.

"Telepathy," Christian whispered, looking at Lewis with a grin.

The latter turned his head toward him and raised his eyebrow in a silent question.

"Well. When you looked at Jack and me like that, I really thought you were talking to him about telepathy. You looked so focused."

Lewis smiled.

"That's a skill I'm afraid I don't have."

"Thank God," Jack muttered, and his father grinned at him.

At that moment, Jenny came out of the kitchen, came up behind Gerry, and flicked him in the neck. He whirled around and saw Jenny grinning at him. At that moment Charles jumped on his father's back. The latter gasped and clutched him to him.

"Hehe. Hi, Dad," he chuckled.

Kerik groaned under the weight on his back. He bobbed slightly and Charles giggled like crazy. This gave the other kids the same idea. They climbed on their fathers' backs as well, causing them to groan.

"Don't grumble," grumbled Kerik, "your sons are lighter than mine."

"You sure?", asked Murphy.

"Why?"

"As much as the boy eats candy, I'm glad he's not rolling yet."

"Dad!", exclaimed Jake, looking at his father in horror.

The latter turned his head and grinned at his son. The latter chuckled, shook his head, and kissed his father on his disfigured cheek.

"Dad?", he whispered softly so that really only Murphy could hear.

"Huh?"

"I love you."

"I love you too, Jake," he replied.

His son smiled and pressed against him.

"I agree with him," Cortes replied, "Christian could eat candy all the way through, too."

"Dad," groaned the boy.

His father grinned, knowing it was the same with the other fathers.

Jack protested: "If Hugh keeps eating that much chocolate, his kid will be a ball at the birth. Or a short time later."

Panaro gasped.

"Nothing like that will ever happen. I know that for a fact."

Jack merely raised an eyebrow at the phantom. Panaro crossed his arms and pouted. Trista giggled and stroked his cheek.

"Son. You're getting really heavy," Lewis told Jack.

"But Dad," the boy grumbled, "you can carry Maman, too. Or is she heavier than me?"

Anna looked at her phantom.

"Don't say anything wrong now," she threatened.

"I'll put it this way: as a gentleman, it's my duty to carry her. Especially now. But you've got two healthy feet you can walk with, too."

Jack groaned and now put all his weight on his father's back. The latter grumbled and when his son was careless, he quickly stood up.

"Dad!", he shouted indignantly.

"Nothing there," the latter replied.

"If it makes you feel better, I'll let you carry your sibling when it gets here," Anna reassured her son.

Jack grumbled and nodded. Meanwhile, Soot came sauntering into the living room and plopped down on Panaro's feet. Then he wagged his tail while his master stroked his fur.

"Awww, he's so cute," Trista squealed delightedly.

Hearing her squealing voice, the dog lifted his head and yowled along. When everyone laughed, he yowled even more. Suddenly, from a corner of the living room came a soft yowl, which the dog heard anyway and answered it with his own. Panaro's eyes searched the room and saw that it was Charles. He immediately beckoned him over. The boy rolled his eyes and came to him.

"Sit right in front of him and do that again," the Phantom whispered in his ear.

Immediately Charles beamed, nodded and sat down in front of Soot. The Labradoodle tilted his head and looked at him. The boy yowled and immediately Soot went into action. He also yowled loudly, then pounced on Charles and licked his face. The latter giggled loudly and Soot barked happily while wagging his tail at the same time. Panaro laughed, and when his dog heard this, he immediately let go of Charles and pounced on his master to lick his face as well. Panaro tried to keep a serious expression, but when Soot licked him across his disfigured cheek, where he was particularly sensitive, the phantom began to laugh as well. Soot barked happily and continued to play. Meanwhile, Kerik's Siamese cat Ayesha had pranced into the room, jumped onto his lap, and purred loudly as he petted her.

By now it was clear that Soot was losing control. He finally let go of his master and ran up and down the living room, trying to catch his own tail. When he failed, he threw himself on the floor and rolled back and forth. By now, everyone was really laughing at the dog. The latter listened and then howled happily along. To calm the dog down, Kari went into the kitchen and came back shortly with a slice of cheese. He gave a short whistle and the Labradoodle turned to him. Then he caught sight of the treat, panted and jumped up at Kari. He chuckled and finally gave the dog his treat. The latter gobbled it up immediately and then looked at the Phantom with pleading and greedy eyes.

"Oh no. You just got some, didn't you? That's all you're getting," Kari said.

The dog whimpered and propped his head on his leg. His brown eyes pleaded softly. Kari looked at Panaro and saw him nod slightly. Kari sighed and stood up.

"Well, come on then. Let's see what else we can find for you."

Soot jumped up, barked happily, wagged his tail, and followed Kari excitedly into the kitchen. A short time later, the two returned. Soot jumped up at the phantom, who was holding a slice of Camembert in his hands. Grinning, he handed it to the Labradoodle, who immediately ate it greedily. He then happily joined his rescuer on his feet.

"A foot warmer in the summer. Not bad either," he said.

Then the dog tapped his tail on the carpet. Ayesha, meanwhile, purred, lay down on her back and showed Kerik her little belly. Charles, however, noticed something.

"Papa? Look," he whispered in his father's ear.

"Huh? That's right. You're right," he replied.

Kerik looked at his cat.

"Yes, that's right. Her belly is slightly bulging, isn't it?"

Charles nodded.

"Maybe we're expecting kittens soon?"

"That would be wonderful."

While the two were busy with the cat lady, Soot went completely crazy. Panaro was just returning to the living room after being God knows where, and his dog took advantage of the opportunity. He jumped toward his master, which the latter unfortunately noticed too late and fell backwards.

"Hugh!", exclaimed Trista anxiously.

"It's all right!", he replied.

His dog wagged his tail and licked his face. Panaro laughed and scratched his dog behind the ears, which he acknowledged with more licks. Finally, he had calmed down enough for his master to sit back up, walk to his chair and sit down. There he brushed the few strands of gray hair from his face and took Trista in his arms, who snuggled up to him.

"I love you," she breathed softly.

"I love you, too," he replied.

Soot barked, rested his head on his master's foot, and then happily fell asleep.