"I'm home!"

Shaylin called as she walked in.

"Lily? Takashi?"

It was quiet… little too quiet to her liking. She noted the lab light was still on before making her way into said lab. She felt her heart melt a little at what she found.

Hiro was fast asleep on one of the few couches the lab had, Lily cuddled up to the young boy, Takashi half awake beside them, trying to read a book. Shaylin shook her head, making her way over to him.

"Hey sleepy head." Shaylin whispered, stroking his hair.

He nuzzled her hand. "Hey Mom…" He whispered. "Work go okay…?"

"Yes… Few rough cases but we made it." Shaylin kissed his head.

He kissed her cheek. "Good… We just had fun over here… Inventing, going a bit crazy… Hiro wants to meet Tony so if he owes ya a favor… Well I'd call it in…"

"Of course." Shaylin smiled gently, looking to the young boy, stroking his hair. "I can see the resemblance."

Hiro sighed happily in his sleep, nuzzling a little.

"Yeah… He's a good one…" Takashi smiled looking to Hiro, taking one of his hands in his. "Love him so much…. Gosh I've missed doing things like this with him… Just playing, bouncing ideas off each other."

"I would imagine…" Shaylin brought her hand over his. "This must've been nice. Huh?"

"It really was… He got a little upset at first… He didn't outright say it but I could tell he was getting a little upset watching me and Lily so we just jumped into things…" Takashi sighed a bit. "I really wish I could've just hugged him but… I didn't wanna freak him out…"

"I know." Shaylin got up, carefully bringing Hiro into her arms, minding Lily, before offering him to Takashi. "I think now is safe."

Takashi brought him into his own arms, cradling him close. "Thank you…" He rested his head against the boy's for a moment. I missed you so much little bro…

Hiro sighed happily, curling up to him.

"Warm…"

He smiled softly, stroking his back.

"I got ya kiddo… I'm here…"

"Such a sweet little boy…" Shaylin picked up Lily, her daughter curling up in her arms.

"He really is…" Takashi held Hiro close to him. "... I love it here… I do… I just miss him so much…"

"I know sweetie…" Shaylin kissed his head. "I know…"

"Thanks Mom." He gazed down at his brother. "He's getting so big…"

"Yep… Time does that." Shaylin looked down at Lily. "I remember when this little one was still a baby…"

"I can only imagine…" Takashi looked to her smiling warmly. "Heh… Just amazing how time flies…"

"Yeah." Shaylin looked back at Hiro. "Is he staying the night?"

"Yep. He called our aunt and got the okay since it was already dark by the time he started nodding off.. Is that okay with you?"

"Completely fine by me." Shaylin started making her way upstairs. "I'll get the guest room ready."

"Thanks Mom!" He called back quietly before looking back to Hiro… Hugging him a bit tighter.

I'm so sorry Otouto… I can't tell you who I am…

I love you…

oooooo

"Hiro! Hiro where are you little bro?"

Hiro giggled a bit, keeping hidden under his bed.

"He'll never find me." he whispered to himself.

"Well I guess he wouldn't be under the bed… Or maybe…"

Hiro felt a set of hands grab his ankles, pulling him right out before being pulled into someone's arms.

"Got ya!"

"Nuuuu! NII-SAN!"

"Found you Otouto!"

Hiro giggled again, curling up his brother's arms… Tadashi's arms…

"Nii-san…"

"I'm here…"

"Promise to always be here?" He asked nuzzling his brother, happy to be where he was.

"I promise." Tadashi nuzzled back. "For you."

Hiro smiled.

"Thanks Nii-san… I love you!"

"Love you too… So much…"

So much…

Hiro opened his eyes slowly, finding himself in a bedroom he didn't recognize.

Where…? Oh… Right… I fell asleep at Takashi's place…

Hiro brought a hand to his face, rubbing his eyes a little… finding he had tears staining his cheeks.

"Huh…?"

"Awake?"

Hiro looked to see Takashi looking in, still rubbing some sleep out of his own eyes.

"Yeah…" Hiro yawned. "What time is it?"

"7:30." Takashi yawned himself. "Mom has a late shift so she's cooking breakfast if you're hungry… Sleep okay?"

"Yeah… slept good."

"Awesome." He leaned on the doorway a bit. "Sorry… Always a bit slow to wake up…"

"All good, I'm the same way…"

"Mooooorning sleepy heads!"

Lily sped on by, flailing her arms a little as she ran.

"I'm gonna get pancakes before you!"

"... We're not gonna let her right?" Hiro asked getting out of bed.

Takashi looked to Hiro, both were quiet for a moment as they stared at each other.

"... NOPE!"

They both ran after the girl.

"Can't catch me!" she taunted.

"Oh no!" Hiro smirked speeding up. "I've had plenty of time learning how to outrun people for food!"

Lily squealed, being passed by Hiro and soon scooped up into Takashi's arms.

"FOOD!"

Shaylin laughed, looking up from her cooking as she saw them come crashing in.

"Thought it was too quiet."

The three laughed as they took their places at the table.

"Well someone here thought she'd get first dibs." Hiro smirked.

Takashi hugged Lily ruffling her hair.

"RAH!"

"EEP!" She squealed, cuddling up to Takashi. "Silly brother!"

"Oh no… My hand… it's possessed!" Takashi kept ruffling her hair. "I can't control it!"

Hiro laughed. "Goofballs!"

"My goofballs." Shaylin chuckled, setting down pancakes for them. "Here you go you savages."

They looked to one another before they all grunted.

"Eat food now." Lily grunted before digging in.

"We man… We need food for manly survival." Takashi smirked before digging in as well.

Hiro ate before giving Takashi a look out of the corner of his eye… Trying to swipe a pancake off his plate.

Takashi smirked, putting a fork on his pancakes.

"Ah ah."

"...You dare deny a hungry child food?" Hiro gave a mock offended look.

"You forget." Takashi chuckled. "We savages."

Shaylin patted Hiro's head.

"And it's rule of the house you don't get between mi hijo's food."

Hiro sighed. "Darnit."

"Buuut." Shaylin put a set of gummy bears on his plate. "I heard you like these."

He perked up. "That I do! Thank you!" He started eating them, sighing happily. Now this is what I call breakfast!

Shaylin chuckled, heading back to the stove.

Ah good to have noise in the house.

"Hey! Takashi get your own gummy bears!"

"Aw come on!" Takashi pouted.

"Mein!" Hiro brought his plate close. "My prrreeecciiiooouss!"

Lily threw her head back laughing.

"Silly boys!"

"... She can have one. But Takashi can't."

"Aw man!"

Lily cheered.

"Yay!"

Hiro gave her one while smirking at Takashi… Making complete eye contact as he ate one himself. "Yum."

Takashi was quiet… before holding up one of his hands… revealing a gummy bear in one of them.

Hiro's jaw dropped. "How did you-!?"

"Magic!" Lily giggled.

"You really shouldn't take your eyes off things, kiddo." Takashi popped the gummy bear into his mouth.

"Hmph! I will have my vengeance! Give me gummy bears or give me death!" Hiro raised a fist in the air trying to look serious… And failing as he started cracking up.

"... Hm… Nah!" Takashi ruffled his hair.

"ACK! Not again!" Hiro laughed trying to guard his head. "Dr. Sky halp!"

"Sorry no hablo English." Shaylin smirked.

"TRAITOR!"

"Te amo Mama!" Takashi grinned.

"Te amo mi hijo." Shaylin ruffled his hair before going back to her cooking.

Hiro laughed. "EVIL!"

"Welcome to the Sky house!" Lily grinned.

"And you shall never escape it bwuahahaha!"

"HALP!"

"You'll never escape me!"

"NUU! NII-SAN!"

"ALL MINE! MINE MINE MINE MINE!"

There's that familiar feeling again…

"Hm… I guess we COULD spare him some mercy." Takashi reasoned.

"Maybe… But then what would my friends say?" Lily titled her head. "I don't recall us ever giving mercy to Keiko, Hideki or anyone for that matter."

"True…"

Hiro began to pout, throwing in a whimper as well.

"Pleeeeeeeeease?"

"HRK!"

"No! ANYTHING BUT THAT!"

"What?" Hiro asked, still pouting. "I'm not doing anything."

"Okay! Okay! You win!" Takashi covered his eyes. "Just please stop!"

Hiro smirked.

"Got ya."

"Ah you crazy kids." Shaylin sat down with them. "Never a dull moment."

"Just how it is Mama." Lily smiled. "And Hiro just makes it more interesting."

"Indeed." Shaylin smiled, looking to him. "It really is wonderful having you here Hiro. Don't be afraid to ask if you want to hang out here more. Our doors are always open."

"Thank you Mrs. Sky." Hiro smiled. "It's a lot of fun around here."

"Not to mention he wants to meet Tony… Think you could…?" Takashi gave a sheepish grin.

"I'll talk to him and see if he has an opening somewhere in his schedule." Shaylin grinned. "He always does like meeting other robotic enthusiasts like himself."

"And I wanna see Audra again." Lily gave a shy look. "I know I saw her not too long ago but we only got so much in with our last play date."

"It's settled then. I'll get something arranged."

"Yes!" Hiro quietly cheered. "Thanks!"

"Hey Tony's a cool guy." Takashi chuckled. "I think you two would get along just fine."

"You'll meet him one day Hiro… I'm sure of it…"

"You promise?"

"Promise."

Why does he keep reminding me of him…?

"I'll call him up later today." Shaylin got up, picking up their plates. "For now… it's Saturday. You kids just have fun. It's a free day from school after all."

"Yes, Mother." Takashi smiled.

"Right!" Lily chirped.

Shaylin kissed both their heads.

"That's my children."

Lily got out of her chair, hurrying out.

"I'm gonna go see if I can play with Keiko and Hideki! I think Hideki wanted to break his swim record again!"

"Alright. I got projects to work on so be sure to get it recorded for me." Takashi called after her.

"You got it!"

"She's full of energy ain't she?" Hiro asked watching her go. "Never stops moving."

"Just in her nature." Takashi rubbed the back of his neck before getting up. "Likes sharing with others."

Hiro nodded getting up as well. "Got it… So back to work huh?"

"I'm gonna get cleaned up first so I'll be right with ya."

Takashi walked out, leaving Hiro alone in the kitchen with Shaylin.

"You two seem to be getting on pretty well." Shaylin smiled. "Got a lot going on."

"Yeah, we work well together… He gets my craziness when it comes to projects… Even got excited as I did when we actually got the hoverboard to stop veering side to side." He looked to her a curious look in his eyes. "Can I ask something though?"

"Sure."

"You and Lily are latina but… Takashi is Japanese… C-Can I ask how that happened…?"

"Well, the reason he's Japanese and not latino is because he was adopted into our family." Shaylin gave a gentle look. "I wanted more children but couldn't after my husband passed away. So… I found Takashi and I've been raising him since then. He may not be my blood son, but I love him just as much as I love Lily."

Hiro nodded quickly giving an apologetic look… Feeling guilty. Great job stupid, you just made someone feel bad. "I-I see...I'm sorry, I was just curious… I didn't mean anything by it I swear."

"Hey." Shaylin placed a hand on his shoulder. "It's alright, you didn't know."

"Thank you." Hiro rubbed the back of his neck. "He's a good guy though… You did a good job raising him." So why does he remind me so much of Tada-nii…? ...Tadashi's dead… It can't be…

"Done all I've can for him." Shaylin gave a gentle look. "He's been through a lot."

Hiro thought back to the scars giving a look of empathy. "I could see it… He's so happy though… He doesn't let it haunt him."

"It bugs him sometimes but, he just carries on." Shaylin focused on her dishes again. "Puts on a smile and continues living."

"I see…. Heh… Just like someone I used to know…" Hiro made his way for the stairs. "If he comes out, I'll be downstairs.."

"I'll let him know."

"Thanks."

Hiro pondered over things as he walked slowly around the lab, not really feeling like working just yet.

It just kept nagging at his mind… His mannerisms… The way he talked… The way he played with Lily.

And… You can still say someone's adopted even if their Tadashi's age… But he speaks Spanish… And he doesn't recognize me at all…

Did he hit his head…?

… Am I really hoping that…?

Hiro shook his head.

If it was him… Why wouldn't he just tell me…?

"Ugh… My head hurts…" Hiro flopped on the couch. "Thinking too hard…"

Yeah right… Tadashi alive…

… He would've just come home…

Wouldn't he…?