A/N Wow what a ride! Thanks for sticking with me; leaving me awesome reviews and motivating me to finish this story. Hope you enjoyed.

Follow the Lights Home

Chapter 10

The Lights of Home

"Life starts now, live, love, laugh and let your light shine!"

― Rob Liano

It was early spring; the long harsh winter had passed. Buck was ready for the warm weather to begin even if school had a few more months to go. He was ready to get out of the house. After getting out of the hospital he was on bed rest better known as house arrest, but only half of it was for recovering from his concussion and busted ankle; mostly it was because he was grounded for the 'dumbass stunt he pulled,' his uncle's words. Once he got off his crutches cutting wood, mucking stalls, and other such forced labor filled his time. While it was punishment he was thankful for it as it proved to distract him from the difficult things, like nightmares, shrink visits and watching other people's sufferings.

That night months back Vin had lead them home, but that didn't make everything else go away; it didn't magically fix the whole situation. Vin lost his dad; he made it to the hospital to say goodbye but he still died. All alone in the world Vin was admitted into the hospital alongside Buck. He stayed there for almost two weeks fighting a raging fever brought on by exposure, his injuries and stress. Buck head was bad enough he had to stay a few days for observation. Chris ran himself ragged between the two boys, Nathan almost admitted him too. Once Buck got home he and his uncle had long talks in between hospital visits about consequences and duty. The third chair at the kitchen table never went back downstairs.

Vin talked to his dad right before he flat lined in front of his son's eyes. Vin never spoke again at the hospital after collapsing next to his father's gurney. The boy listened to Chris talk about the ranch and many times he had a ghost of a smile listening to Buck's escapades; but he never spoke. Vin was placed in Chris Larabee's protective custody because the man known only as Joe was never located. The boy's first word after his second silence was again, "Home," as he entered the snow covered driveway leading to the Larabee Ranch. Buck encircled his weeping friend in his arms until Chris stopped the truck in the garage. Vin clung to his new guardian as he was carried to the couch he'd used less than a month earlier. The two blonds found comfort in each other as the boy began to let out some of his pain and begin to heal. Buck joined them after placing a movie in the DVD player. The upbeat music of a classic western filled the room. Three pairs of eyes glued to the screen; slowly closing one set at a time as the film progressed. The three fell asleep together on the couch that night and many after.

Vin yanked at his tie watching enviously as Buck tore his off stuffing it in his pocket. They sat in the courthouse hallway as the adults discussed their situation. Chris had been Buck's legal guardian for years and became Vin's in recent months. The last half a year had been tense at times in the Larabee household; learning how to live with each other. But now it was their biyearly review and Chris wanted to make it permanent. The boys had already been taken into separate rooms being interviewed by social workers; now they were just waiting for Chris to finish up on his end. Buck sighs and sent a glare towards Vin as he once again fidgets in his chair. Just as he thinks about knocking on the door and demanding to know why they are taking so long the door opens.

It was official; Chris was legally the adoptive father to Buck and Vin. Chris hugged both boys close to him and Buck lets out a whoop while Vin went with a holler. They almost got kicked out of the building because of their noise level but that would have been alright because they were headed to the ranch to celebrate anyways.

Buck leans against the tree watching as his uncle chases Vin after the younger blond poured water on their adoptive father, "Vin is a lot more like Uncle Chris then I am," Buck whispers.

"Yes he is," Buck's head shoots up his eyes full of betrayal as he see Josiah, who is like another uncle, standing next to him.

"But that doesn't mean he loves him more. Adam was different then Chris too. Buck, Chris will always love you just like he still loves Adam. Now there is just one more person in Chris's heart to love." Josiah finishes.

"Do you love Chris?" Josiah asks after a moment of silence.

"Of course I do, you know I do," Buck answers almost indignantly.

"Do you care about Vin? Can you see yourself being his big brother?"

"Yeah, I guess so," Buck admits, "He's all alone now,"

"Then that's all you need," Josiah starts to walk back to the party, "Family is never perfect. All that matters is that you care for one another and you need each other in your life."

Buck watches Josiah walk away pondering on his words. Finally he looks to the man who is like his father in all but blood and the boy he risked his life for; with a small smile he runs and grabs the hose. In the water fight he had the upper hand with the most firepower. Not only did he get Chris and Vin good and soaked he made sure to aim at J.D.'s awful hat. Vin made sure to give Ezra a big sopping wet hug on his arrival. The little punk was becoming more like the little boy who called Chris a cowboy with a grin on his face with each passing day. Ezra provided fireworks that the three boys just had to set off, secretly behind the barn, nearly giving Josiah a heart attack. Then after that commotion died down they went to check Vin's critter trap. They came back with a chipmunk that soon got lose and climbed up Nathan's pant leg. He jumped around screaming about rabies while Buck kept yelling, "Alvin!" Needless to say Buck was back on forced labor with Vin joining him. Ellamae was kind enough let Ezra attend the session as well as thinking up some of her own. She had a suspicious twinkle in her eye as she bid farewell; leading her nephew who grumbled about menial labor the whole way. Good food, good company, and a good time, even if it did lead some to unwanted consequences, was had by all.

Chris gave his two boys a small respite as he went to do the evening chores after the last guest left. Before he headed to the barn he promised the boys to plan hard work for the next day when Ezra would join them in penalty for the day's events. Chris laughed as he heard groans behind him on the porch as he walked away; shaking his head remembering the boys' antics. His life was never going to be boring; thankfully he was in the barn when he let out his own groan as the realizations hit home.

"Thanks for being there for me," Vin spoke softly looking up at the night sky.

Buck looked at the younger boy a second before answering sincerely, "Anytime."

"Buck you forgot to turn the barn light out again," an exasperated Chris joins the two boys on the porch.

"Sorry dad," Buck laughed pulling his grinning brother into a headlock tousling his long curls, "it won't happen again."

A/N Hope you liked it. And yes that was an Alvin and the Chipmunks reference (I don't own that or M7).