It felt like an eternity that Samuel waited in the family room for word on Yelena's condition.

Dr. Connors came into the room with an optimistic smile and Samuel felt like he could finally breathe.

"How… how is she…"

"She'll be fine, Samuel… and you've got your brother to thank for that." Dr. Connors looked confused "I didn't know you had a brother… you two do look different."

"Half-brother… long story but yes Charles is my younger brother." Samuel sighed "I need to see Yelena."

"Okay, follow me."

Yelena groaned as she felt someone sit on the side of her bed.

"Samuel…" she winced at the sound of her own voice as Dr. Connors excused himself.

"Don't speak, let your voice rest." Samuel said as he gently rubbed her cheek with his thumb. "He did some damage that will only heal if you don't talk."

"Do… do we know who stopped him?"

"Yes, and your attacker is lucky he isn't dead" Samuel chuckled "It was my brother, Charles."

"Charles…" Yelena echoed in confusion "I didn't think he…"

"Didn't think he cared… yeah he gives that impression… but he is like any of us, protective of those he knows need it and you're human and you've been family since you came into my home so of course he'd save you."

The detective entered the room, Samuel stood and turned to him.

"Do we know why she was targeted?" Samuel asked.

The detective gave him the story he'd told Charles and Samuel was mortified.

"I… I can't believe…" he put his head in his hands. In a horrifying way this made so much make sense, her behavior, her self harm, this was the missing piece of the puzzle. This was the reason they had been searching for.

"Samuel…" Yelena said in a gruff whisper.

Samuel sat on the edge of her bed and took her hand in his own.

"It's okay, I won't let you be harmed again." He hugged her.

"I know… Papi…" she said.

Samuel looked at her in surprise.

"Yelena…"

"Did I say something wrong?" she asked fear edging into her voice.

"No… no of course not…" he embraced her again tightly "If you want to call me Papi, you can."

Detective Benson knew Yelena was in foster care and was as surprised as Samuel had been when she experimentally switched from calling him Samuel to Papi.

Samuel left the room so the nurse could help Yelena get ready to go home.

He answered his phone on the second ring to find Bran on the other end.

"She's coming home today, Da, but I've learned a lot that…"

"Charles told me about what happened to her." Bran replied "Son I get the feeling something else changed between you and Yelena."

"She… she called me 'Papi'… I think she has wanted to but by her reaction I think she was scared to admit how close she's gotten to us."

"Is the surprise ready?"

"Yes…" Samuel replied as Nicolette approached.

He got off the phone and hugged his mate.

"Is she…"

"She'll be fine, Nikki," he assured her then showed her to where Yelena was waiting for them.

"Yelenita…"

"Mami…" it came out more tentatively than Yelena had intended.

"Don't talk, mi hija." Nicolette said embracing the young girl tightly reassuring her that being 'Mami' was exactly what Nicolette wanted.

"Let's get you some ice cream and go home" Nicolette said cupping her daughter's face in her hands.

Yelena nodded with a smile.

They arrived home to see Bran waiting on the porch for them. Nicolette figured he had his reasons for being there.

" Abuelo…" Yelena said hesitantly and was rewarded with an embrace and kiss on the temple.

"Yes my child," Bran replied.

It would take a few days before Yelena's voice was well enough for her to sound like herself when she spoke. That was when she found herself at Charles's front door waiting for him or Anna to answer.

Anna invited her in and she cautiously obeyed. She knew she was in no danger from Charles, but she didn't feel she knew him like she did others in the family. That and his reputation made her nervous to enter his house.

"Yelena, what brings you here?" Anna asked as Charles approached them.

"I… I wanted to thank you for rescuing me." She said looking to Charles.

"You don't have to thank me, I'm just glad I was in the right place."

"I know… but…"

SeoHyun came up.

"Da, is everything okay?"

"Fine, SeoHyun…" he replied as she noticed Yelena.

They guided Yelena to sit with them as she began to calm down.

Charles hated that his niece had been so scared to come to him. That would have to change, she was family, family never needed to fear each other.

"I've heard you call Nikki and Samuel 'Mami' and 'Papi'" Anna said.

"Yes… I just… it feels right I don't know how to explain it."

"I know how you feel, I felt it too, that's why I call them 'mom' and 'da'." SeoHyun said with a smile.

"SeoHyun, your history paper is due tomorrow." Charles reminded her.

"I know, da…"

"Then get back to work, I'll read it when you're finished."

Somehow hearing Charles scold his daughter about her homework made Yelena relax around her uncle.

"I was also wondering if you would mind me calling you tio and tia." She asked.

It took Anna second to realize those must be the Spanish words for 'uncle' and 'aunt'.

Charles agreed first then Anna accepted as well.

Yelena's thirteen birthday was on them before they knew it and Yelena was excited for the celebration.

To Be Continued…

A/N: I know it was beginning to look like I'd never update this but here it is at last. Please review, I really appreciate the feedback.