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Chapter Fifteen: Antonio's Family

A/N: Ello! Hope you enjoyed that last chapter...wonder where that will take us...;). Enjoy the next one!

"In three words I can sum up everything I've learned about life. It goes on." -Robert Frost

Antonio looked around nervously as he waited at the airport in San José. He was supposed to be meeting someone who would take him to Dracos. Someone bumped into him. "Sorry," he said.

"That's my fault," said the girl. She looked at him strangely. "Antonio?"

"How do you knew my name?"

"Sorry. I'm Marianna. Your cousin."

"Oh! Ok. Well hi." He adjusted his bag and shook her hand. "Nice too met you."

"You too. Well, come on." She took his bag and swung it over her shoulder with ease.

Antonio smiled. "You're pretty strong, if you don't my saying so," he said following her.

"What else do you expect, hauling crates and nets on fishing boats all day," she replied. "You understand right?"

"Completely. Not to mention all the calluses and scars from getting fish hooks stuck in your hand."

"Pretty much. So, cuz, you like living in the states?"

"Oh yeah. It's great. I've got the greatest friends anyone could've ever asked for, and the love of my life."

"Aw," Marianna cooed. They reached a jeep and Antonio smiled. "Nice ride. Why are there no doors?"

She shrugged. "It was cheaper that way." She threw his bag into the back. "Hop in and try not to fall out. Grandma has been so excited to meet you."

"What's she like? Our grandmother I mean?"

"Sweet, but don't be fooled. She raised eight sons, and let me tell you, that woman is touch as nails."

"Eight? I never knew my dad and that many siblings."

"Yeah. Apparently after he and Grandpa had their fight things just got...tense between everyone. But I'm glad you're here. I think maybe its time to end this stupid fight."

Antonio nodded. "I agree. Plus it's nice to know I still have blood relatives out there."

"Definitely. So, you were you born in the states?"

"Mexico."

"So that's where Uncle Aáron ended up."

"Tell me about yourself," Antonio said. "You work on a fishing boat?"

"Did you expect anything else? Me and my three brothers do. My dad was the captain, but he died last year."

"I'm sorry."

"Thanks. Anyways, because I'm the oldest I took over running the boat in Grandpa's business."

"His business?"

"Yeah, you didn't know? Grandpa owns the largest fishing company in the country."

"Wow. That's amazing."

"Yeah. According to my dad, that's why Aáron left. He didn't want to work in the family business and grandpa, kind of told him to get lost."

"Well he did," Antonio confirmed.

"Oh well. Anyways, I'm really glad you're here. But as long as you are here, you interested in coming out on the boat with me and my brothers?"

"Sounds like fun," Antonio smiled. "I would love that."

"Fantastic."

-Samurai Ranger Life-

After hours of driving they finally got close to the coast and Antonio looked around at the place his father grew up in. He saw a school and small homes and stores. He smiled. This place is so nice. They drove down a long road to a big house. It was a lot differnt than the Shiba House, just because it was built with Spanish architecture. But it was still really nice. Antonio got out of the jeep with Marianna.

"Hey everybody!" she yelled. "We're here!"

Three guys came out smiling. "Hey big sis!"

"Antonio, these are my brothers, your cousins, Roberto, Carlito, and Álex. Bros, this is our cousin Antonio."

"Hey Cuz!" Carlito shouted. He ran up and hugged Antonio tightly. "It's so awesome to meet you!"

"You too," Antonio replied.

"Carlito, don't kill him," Roberto said.

"Yeah," Marianna smiled. "He's helping us out on the boat sometime this week."

"Awesome!" Álex cheered. He came over and put an arm around Antonio. "I like you already."

Antonio smiled and chuckled. "Well I'm glad for that."

"Come on guys," Marianna said. "Let's get inside so he can talk to Grandma."

They led Antonio into the house, Álex still keeping his arm around his cousin. Antonio noticed that while Marianna was his age, her bothers all looked to be a little older than sixteen. They walked up the path that led to the front door and entered the house. Antonio looked around the foyer with fascination. He saw different pieces of Latin American art, but no sculptures.

"We had sculptures," Carlito explained. "But for some reason they kept getting broken."

"Don't be fooled," said someone from a doorway. Antonio looked at her. "It was my grandchildren's mischievous actions that broke the sculptures."

"Grandma there's no proof of that," Álex replied.

"Not unless you're calling me a liar." The woman walked towards them. She had grey hair pulled into a bun and wrinkly skin. She was smaller than Antonio, maybe by a whole head. She stopped in front of him and smiled gently. She put her hands on ether side of his face and turned his head gently. "God, you look like your father," she whispered.

"He always said I looked like my mom," Antonio mumbled,

Gabriella smiled and kissed each of his cheeks. "It's so wonderful to finally meet you."

"Um...you too. I guess."

"Come with me, we have a lot to discuss. Álex, Carlito, take his bags upstairs please."

"Ok! Álex I'll race you!" Carlito exclaimed, grabbing Antonio's bag. The two of them ran up the stairs laughing. Antonio shook his head as he followed Gabriella. They walked into a living room and she sat down on one of two couches facing each other. Antonio sat down on the other one. He saw large bay windows on his right a few feet away that looked out over a large lawn.

"This is a nice place," Antonio commented, looking around.

"Thank you. Antonio built this place once his business got big."

"It's cool. So, Gabriella, I was wondering, how exactly did you know where I was? As far as I know, my dad hasn't had any contact with anyone here since he left home."

"Yes that's true. Well, it was really your grandfather's doing. He's the reason I knew where to contact you. A few years after Aáron left, one of our others sons was in Mexico on a trip. He called us and said, 'Mama, Papa, I saw Aáron today. From a distance but I still saw him.' I knew by then your grandfather had forgiven Aáron for their fight, but he thought his son hated him. So he left him alone. A couple years after that, we got another call from a different son who was on a business trip.

"He called us and said, 'Mama, Papa, Aáron has a son.' After you moved to America, we didn't know where you were. But, before he died, Marianna's father took a business trip up there and he saw you. Your grandfather went to the city a few times to talk to you, but he never had the courage to approach you. He thought that you'd hate him too."

Antonio shook his head. "I would've been surprised, but I never hated him. Or any of my dad's relatives for that matter."

Gabriella smiled. "I'm glad. But now that's he's gone, I thought he would've liked that you met the family just once. And if you want to leave right after the funeral and never talk to any of us again we would understand. We're family, but we don't even know you."

Antonio rubbed his knee. "I'd like to stay the whole week if that's ok. I mean...I'd really like to kind of get to know you guys. Maybe we won't be really close, but you're still my family."

Gabriella smiled and got up. She sat down next to him and hugged him. "I'm glad you feel that way. I just wish Aáron and your grandfather had been able to see this."

"I think my dad forgave him," Antonio told her as he pulled away. "He did, after all, tell me that 'Antonio' was a family name."

Gabriella smiled and pat his shoulder. "And what a name it is. Now, I have something else I'd like to discuss with you. Your grandfather left you some money when he died."

"He did? Why would he-"

"He told me he wanted to leave behind a little bit for all his grandchildren so they'd each have something for their futures."

Antonio was speechless. He couldn't believe this man he'd never met had written him into his will just because they were blood. "I can't believe it."

"It's nothing much. A few hundred dollars-"

"A few hundred dollars?! That's more money than I make in three weeks! I couldn't possibly accept it."

"You must. Your grandfather would want you to."

Antonio thought about it. This would greatly help him in his quest to open his own fish restaurant. And he knew it was probably best to honor the wishes of your dead grandfather. But it still felt so weird accepting money from these people. He eventually nodded. "Ok. I'll accept my inheritance in full."

"I'm glad to hear it." She smiled at him and hugged him again. "I can't believe you're here. Now, you can go upstairs and rest, or freshen up. Three of your uncles are here right now with their families. Everyone will be excited to see you tonight. We're having a great big party tomorrow!"

Antonio smiled. "Sounds like fun." They stood up and he followed her back into the foyer. They walked up the stair case, Antonio taking care to match her steps. She led him down a hallway, and up another flight of stairs. All the walls had framed pictures on them. Kids at soccer games and proundly holding up fish. They finally stopped at a door.

"I'll leave you to it then," Gabriella told him. "If you need anything, Marianna and her brothers are right across the hall.

"Ok. Thank you."

She hugged him and gave him another kiss on the cheek before leaving him alone. He went into the room and let out a low, long whistle. There was a modest living room with a couch, coffee table, side table with a lamp, and a tv on a nice stand. He went over to the windows and threw open the old fashioned shutters. He smiled as leaned on the sill and looked out at the backyard. He saw regular grass give away to dunes grass, and eventually the beach sand. He turned around and found there was one door on his left and one on his right.

The one on the right was a bathroom and the one of the left was a bedroom. He saw his bag on the bed and smiled. The bedroom had a queen sized bed facing a dresser with a mirror on the wall over it. He sat down and ran his hand over the bead spread. It was a nonsense design of bright colors. He looked around. "Something tells me that my grandfather might've been a rich man." He decided to call Lauren and let her know he'd landed safely. "Then shower," he said standing up. "Then nap. I could use a good nap right about now."