"I will try to upload a new chapter atleast once a week." Yeah, that was the biggest load of crap that ever came from my fingertips. I am so so sooo terribly sorry for the lack of updates you guys! This past semester was much busier than I had anticipated; and if you've read my page, you've know that I've had family issues, but have now been resolved. I hope, I pray that I will take more time to commit to this story. This chapter is shorter than my usuals, but it's short, sweet and to the point:)

Chapter 17: Final Admittance

"Dammit Bro, Dammit Jane," Dave wiped his eyes as he slammed the door to his bedroom shut, "Dammit everything!" Dave cried out as he threw himself onto his bed and buried his head into his pillow, throwing aside the thing that caused him such grief.

Well, it wasn't the object itself that caused him such frustration, it was the turmoiling feelings all bottled up inside of him. Seeing the object just really shook up all those emotions he was trying to keep in for so long. And just like when you shake up a soda can, those emotions finally popped the cap off the bottle and they all came pouring out at once.

On the floor discarded, was a still partially wrapped box, with pale yellow wrapping paper still clinging to it. The box was torn open just enough to see it's contents of a yellow onesie with a matching hat and a soft fuzzy blanket.

"Bro, what the hell is this?!" Dave demanded to know as he discovered a small, brightly wrapped present that was conveniently placed infront of the tree.

"Just something we'd thought we'd get for the baby," Dirk played off nonchalantly, taking a sip of his hot chocolate, "It is the baby's first Christmas after all."

"Yeah Dave," Jade excitedly said with anticipation ringing in her voice, "C'mon, open it up."

Dave was growing very suspicious as everyone gathered around the living room to watch him, or more appropriate his reaction to, unveiling the present.

Dave untied the silver ribbon and slowly began to tear away the yellow wrapping paper. When the top of the box was visible, Dave tore open the box slightly to peek inside.

"Nope," Dave immediately shut the box back when he realized what were its contents, "Nope, nope, nope, I'm out. I'm done."

Dave angrily got up from his spot on the floor, unknowingly having the package still in hand, when Jade gave him a tug at the arm.

"Dave, stop," Jade tried to get him to calm down, "Please, just see it."

"No Jade!" Dave snatched his arm back, "I done! I can't take it anymore," Dave yelled at her as he stormed off upstairs to his room.

The eight pairs of eyes could only stare as the infuriated marched himself up stairs until they heard a loud slam of the door at the end of the hall.

"Oh dear," Mr. Egbert said, shaking his head slightly.

"Well that didn't go as planned," Jane added, saddened by Dave's reaction.

"Don't be so certain," Dirk said, taking another sip of hot chocolate, before he set it down.

"I've raised that boy from birth, and I know more about him than he knows about himself. I know what he's about to say before he thinks it. I know right at this moment what he is thinking and what he is feeling. And I can tell you one thing. All these conflicting emotions Dave has been having with himself have reached their breaching point. We have now made it clear to Dave that we want him to keep this baby. All Dave is trying to do now is figure out what he wants to do himself. And I guarantee you anything, when he walks out that door, he will have made a definitive decision."

What Dirk just told the group downstairs just hit Dave right on the head. Right now at this moment, he was more conflicted than anytime ever before!

His heart just couldn't take it anymore. His heart and mind couldn't keep playing yo-yo with one another anymore. His body was getting physically sick from it. Dave felt like his entire body was having a war with itself over heart and mind.

His mind kept going over and over off all the things he would have to sacrifice, the things, the plans that would have to change. While his heart reminded him of all the things his own brother sacrificed for him; how his plans changed so he could take care of his baby brother alone!

Then his mind would kick him in the gut and remind him just how this baby brewing inside of him came in to be, through a rape. His mind asked would he be able to even look at the child without being reminded of that fateful night, being constantly reminded of Noir. Almost immediately after being knocked down and out within himself, his heart steps in once again and helps him to his feet and has him recall that his own untimely birth was the result of an accident that killed his and his brother's mother. How his life was chosen over the life of their mother. Whenever he made his brother mad, did Dirk ever once think he made the wrong decision in let his mother die over the life of his baby brother. Of course not! No matter how Dave was brought into this world, whether it be through an accident or decision, Dirk not ever once gave up on him and wanted him so bad that if that meant loosing their beloved mother than so be it! Dirk couldn't loose Dave, he refused to!

Then, suddenly the war within himself stopped. Dave felt a tear roll down his cheek as he finally realized just what all his own brother sacrificed for him. He sacrificed their loving mother to save him. Dirk made the ultimate sacrifice for him so they could be together.

That's what parenthood's all about, changing plans and making sacrifices for your family. Dirk sacrificed school, he sacrificed his friends, he sacrificed his own mother to save what was left of his family and raise his baby brother. And without anyone's help outside of just a few true blue friends. Sure, there were some tough times, but they made it through with flying colors. Dirk made it, why couldn't he? Except this time, Dave wasn't on his own. He had his friends, and he had his bro. That was all he needed.

Sure his plans would change, yes there were things that he was going to have to sacrifice; but that was all things that he was willing to make, for his baby.

Dave slowly sat up from his bed and wrapped one arm around his belly and used the other to wipe his eyes.

"Please forgive me little one, I'm so sorry for ever doubting," he smiled down and rubbed his belly as he now envisioned only the joyful things that were to come.

Suddenly, Dave's eyes widen at a very new, and quite freaky, feeling what came from his belly. Right then, right at the moment where Dave had his hand, he felt the very first movement from the tiny bundle of joy growing in his belly.

At first, Dave just thought it was his stomach just fixing to through a fit; but when it happened a couple more times a few minutes apart, it finally clicked at what just occurred, his eyes ignited with sheer joy and streams of tears came pouring from his eyes. He just experienced what every new mother, or parent greatly anticipates, the very first feeling/karate kick from their unborn child.

If there was still any surviving shred of doubt that still existed in Dave's mind, it was completely obliterated right at that moment.

Who knew that such tiny kicks was all Dave needed to kick him in on the right track of mind? As if the his tiny baby was already sending him a message that even if he didn't completely trust in himself, his child already did.

Not really know what else to do, Dave leaned down as far as he could to give his belly and its inhabitant a quick little smooch, followed by a faint, "thank you," as tears continually rolled down his face and onto the fabric of his oversized sweater.

After a moment, Dave lifted his eyes for a second only to catch a glimpse at the package that was all but completely forgotten on the floor.

He smiled and wiped his eyes as he leaned down to pick it up, "Well, let's see what Uncle Dirk, Aunt Jane, and your grandmother got you," Dave said to his belly as he finished unwrapping the gift.

"Do, do you think he'd actually give the baby up, Dirk?" Jade somberly asked as she stared up at the ceiling of the large room.

"I think he is now content with the decision he's made," Dirk wisely spoke.

"What do you-," Jane was cut off from asking as they heard the door to Dave's room upstairs open in the quiet house and heard foot steps following down the stairs.

Dave slowly appeared in the door way with a proud smirk on his face and something behind his back.

"Well," Dave said as brought the onesie from around his back and stretched it out across his belly, "What do you think?"

Jade was the first to show her excitement. Jade immediately jumped up from her spot on the floor and ran over to Dave and through her arms around his neck.

"Oh Dave! You mean it!? You really, REALLY mean it?!" Jade excited squealed in his ear.

"Yes! You're going to be a mommy!" Dave teased.

But Jade could care less, she was so thrilled! She was greatly looking forward to be the baby's 'kinda sorta' mommy. This was the moment she had been hoping for all these months!

A joyous smile instantaneously made it's way on each face in the room at the realization of what took place. What they all had been hoping for for months had finally occurred; Dave, at long last, conquered the battles and fears he's held in for so long.

Dave could honestly say that this was the happiest moment of his life, so far. His cheeks were beginning to hurt from smiling so much as he envisioned the many joyous times that lay ahead. His child's first words, first steps, their first shenanigans together as parent and child. And lets not forget their partner in crime, Uncle Dirk.

Dave could just see it now; coming home and seeing the apartment in total chaos with crazy Uncle Dirk and his bundle of joy right in the middle of it. Oh yes, what joyous times lay ahead.

Dirk saw something something on his baby brother that he could honestly say that he has not seen in years, a true blue, ear to ear, joy filled smile. The last time Dirk saw that same smile was about 11 years ago when Dirk got Dave his, and last bicycle for Christmas. Five year old Dave's eyes grew so big and bright when he first saw his new 'ride' as he couldn't contain the pure giddy smile that was sown on his face.

It may have been under completely different circumstances, but at that moment, Dirk looked up and envisioned that exact same moment, at the exact same time it happened all those years ago.

And just like he himself all those years ago, Dirk couldn't contain himself when his subconscious lead him across the room to engulf his baby brother in a semi bone crushing hug.

"I'm so proud of you Little Man!" Dirk said as he buried his head into his brother's hair, "You have no idea how bad I've been wanting to hear this."

Dave was a bit shocked at what his brother just confessed to him. "You've been wanting me to keep it the entire time?" Dave asked.

"Oh course we have," Dirk stated, lifting his head up to look his brother in the eye, "We've just been waiting on you to realize that you don't need to give it up. That it has perfectly loving family right here waiting for it."

Dave right now was a combination of slightly shocked and very, very relieved. He always thought his brother would most likely help him with the baby; but now knowing that he had his family's 100% full support made Dave feel like the entire world itself was lifted off his shoulders.

Dave really didn't know what else to say and do but wrap his arms around his brother's neck and give him a very gracious hug.

"Thank you Bro, thank you!"

Dirk could only smile as he held onto his baby brother for just a few more moments before felt a sensation that shocked both brothers.

"Little Man, was that what I think it was?"

"Yep," Dave said, "the baby just kicked, again."

Dirk immediately removed his hands from around his brother's shoulders and nervously placed them on his stomach.

"You feel it?" Dave asked.

After a few moments, Dirk again felt just a tiny push against his fingers, causing a tear greeted smile to appear on his face.

"Yeah, I feel it," Dirk quietly said through his joyous, prideful tears.

Seeing his niece or nephew on the ultrasounds and hearing it's tiny heart beats were nothing compared to this one moment right here. Seeing and hearing were one thing, but feeling that the tiny baby was alive and steady growing was better than anything Dirk could have ever put into words.

So, like Dirk Strider often does when he can't put words together to describe something, he acts out by holding his brother 'gently' down and begins to blow on his stomach, like he used to do when Dave was a baby.

Except this time, instead of giggling like a happy go-lucky toddler, Dave erupts in tickle induced laughter.

"Bro, Bro quit!" Dave laughed as he rolled around, trying to escape from the tickling rampage, "I'm gonna pee on myself!"

Everyone in the room was ecstatic to see the two brother's reaction. And they each wanted to offer their bit of congratulation. But this moment was reserved specifically for the two brothers.

But, no one aside from the two brothers was happier to hear the news than Jane. Like Dirk, she had waited, wanted so long and so much for this moment to come. She had been hoping, dreaming of this moment for months; and now it was finally coming true.

As she watched the two brothers in their tickle fight in the middle of the crowded living room floor, she could only shake her head as she imagined this scene maybe a year or two from then with all three of the Striders horsing around.

"What's so funny, Janey?" Dirk asked as he looked up from tickling his brother.

"Oh nothing," Jane replied as she wiped her eyes from giggling so much, "Just the years to come."