Chapter 1: Maybe try fostering first?
"Mr Pritchet, Mr. Tucker it's great to have you here, exciting time isn't it?" A chubby African American woman with black curly hair said as Cam and Mitchell were sitting in front of her in her office "I know you've done the paperwork and went to classes, but this is your first time fostering a child right? I know you adopted one and were on a path to adopt a second one tight?" The woman said as the couple nodded
"Yes, we tried to adopt a child by talking to the pregnant mom, but it didn't work out," Mithell said with a sigh
"Yeah the grandma came in and took it, it was a big moment for them I mean," Cam said tearing up a bit after remembering what happened that day in the hospital and Mitchell took his hand in support
"I'm sorry, that rarely happens, well at least in this department," The woman said trying to trap the couple into adopting a kid "So why did you decide to take on our foster adopting program?" The woman asked in curiosity as Mitchell rubbed his hands together and sighed as Cam put a hand on his back in support
"After our trip down to Mexico, we gave up we really did," Mitch said to the camera in a sad tone "But then we saw a pamphlet of a foster care place in a gas station on our way home and we grew curios," Mitchell said
"We saw it as a sign and we started diving in, and we felt bad for what those kids go through, so our flame lit up again so to speak," Cam said excitedly as Mitch grabbed his hand
"So now, this is our last chance, because if it doesn't work, I don't know what we will do," Mitch said preoccupied and Cam grabbed his shoulder in support
"Excellent, then there's only one thing left, for you to choose your kid," The woman said excitedly as Mitch raised an eyebrow in confusion
"Chose our kid?" Mitch asked confused
"Yeah, we have a big party in two hours, a way to distract the kids and for you to get to know them," The woman said with a huge smile "We believe is more human than just looking through a document and choosing without having met the kid first," The woman said standing up from her chair
"So shall we?" The woman said walking to the exit as Cam and Mitch quickly got out of their chairs shocked and surprised
"That quick, oh my god Mitch I'm not sure if I'm ready," Cam said nervous as Mitch rubbed his back trying to calm him down
"Calm down, we're just going to meet them and that's it, who knows what will happen?" Mitch said reassuringly
But bad things did happen that day, after all whenever Mitchell and Cam tried to bond with a child another couple took him away, one made fun of Mitch's ginger hair, one kicked Cam's leg just for fun and Cam had gotten stuck in the inflatable while Mitch was trying hard to take him out
So later they stopped trying to meet children and just passed their time in the eating lounge "I don't know Cam, maybe it's not meant to be," Mitchell said with a sigh as they were eating a piece of pizza that the organizers where giving away
"I know, who would know that picking a kid would be so hard, I mean we didn't have this much trouble with Lily," Cami said looking at the table in front of him "I don't know, I was hoping for a sign, like if I saw him I will know," Cam said and Mitch looked at him confused
"Yeah right, like if the perfect kid is going to appear out of nowhere, that doesn't happen in real life Cam," Mitch said sarcastically with a snort as they kept eating the pizza in sadness
"Uh excuse me, misters?" Mitch and Cam heard someone speak to them and turn around
Where they saw a teen with tan skin and curly black hair, his eyes were brown and when the light hit them just right like right now they passes as bright yellow eyes, he was wearing a pair of tight black ripped jeans, a black open hoodie and a black shirt with a white Metallica logo and a photo of James Hatfield on black and white and to top it all he wore a pair of red vans on his feet
"Can I grab a slice of pizza? You're kind of in the way," The teen said as Mitchell and Cam's eyes winded and moved out of the way
"Ah right, sorry," Mitchell said and the teen smiled at them
"Don't worry dudes, it's just that los mocosos," The teen said referring to the kids playing around in his native Spanish language "After they're done playing always finished the pizza fast, so if I don't get my slices I won't get anything," The teen said grabbing two slices of Pizza and putting them in a dispensable blue plate
"Ah excuse me?" Cam said looking at Mitch as the ginger man shrugged his shoulders the teen looked at Cam with a raised eyebrow and a pizza in his mouth "What's your name kid?" Cam asked sweetly and the teen snorted
"Ah trust me hermano, you don't want to adopt me, I'm old," The teen said with a chuckle and then sighed "I mean you look lovely, but most people don't want to deal with a teen like me, especially one of seventeen years old," The teen said as he took a bite out of his pizza and started walking away
"Still you could give us a chance? This place is for us to know the kids here right?" Mitchell said hopefully, maybe it was how the teen appeared right behind them as they said the thing about fate, or maybe it was because they were trying for a younger one and failing so maybe they decided to try and get to know an older kid
Whatever it was, Cam and Mitchell felt a sort of connection or something, they couldn't quite place the feeling but they knew they have to at least get to know the kid
The teen looked at them and sighed as he shrugged his shoulders "Que mas da? No es como si fuera a hacer diferencia," The teen whispered to himself saying that it didn't make any difference, he knew that he wouldn't be adopted, no one ever did adopt a teenager "My name's David, David Martinez, and if you folks want to get to know me can we do it elsewhere? I have something I like to do on this day," David said walking away not waiting for a response but inviting the couple to follow him
David silently led them to the farthest place of the foster organization building which had a wall with a painting of a big beautiful mural of a forest with several animals there, and Mitch and Cam realized that some animals weren't finished while some were, and they saw David working on a black wolf that was almost done
"What's this?" Cam asked in amazement and wonder as they saw David grabbing some paint after putting his plate on a nearby table
"A tradition between us older kids in here," David said as he started painting the wolf "We pick an animal and painted on the forest, our goal is too not finished the painting because it means that we got adopted, and didn't actually get to finish it," David said looking at the couple straight in the eye before continuing painting
"As you can see not many are unfinished, and we all know it," David said with a sigh as he continue painting "So what did you want to know Misters…?" David asked trying to find out their names
"Ah yes, where are our manners, I'm Mitchell Pritchet," The ginger man said and David nodded as he stared at Cam in curiosity
"And I'm Cameron Tucker," Cam said and David nodded
"And are you married? Because I know gay marriage is not legal yet here in California," David said and Cam and Mitchel nodded as they took a seat next to the teen which the teen didn't mind as he continue panting
"Yeah we know, but we're together, we even have a daughter," Cam said as David raised an eyebrow at him in confusion
"If you have a daughter why are you here then?" David asked confused and Mitchell sighed
"We wanted a baby boy, we fight for it this whole past year," Mitchell said as Dacid looked at him "We figure we could do it, and I don't know had this whole new experience," Mitchell said and Cam took over
"We know it sounds silly, but we were excited, but people are uncertain about giving a child to two gay dudes," Cam said and David nodded in understanding
"I get it, people are afraid of what they consider abnormal," David said as Mitchell snorted
"Yeah you hit the nail on the head kid," Mitchell said with a sarcastic chuckle
"So, I'm guessing it didn't go as planned?" David asked rhetorically and Mitchell chuckled
"No it did not," Mitchell said as Cam cleared his throat and started telling the story of how it had turned out, which David hadn't asked but after started hearing the story he was wrapped in it like a deer seeing a headlight
"Wait, so the grandmother comes and takes the baby away? Just like that? What about the priest?" David asked in curiosity
"Unknown, we didn't stay there for long," Mitchell said and David nodded in understanding
"I get it, I mean I'm sorry but that was the best telenovela I've ever heard of, and I watch a lot of them," David said chuckling as Mitchel and Cam smiled "You're like me in a sort of way huh?" David said with a dry chuckle as Cam looked at him confused
"What do you mean?" Cam asked in curiosity and slight confusion especially when they saw the melancholy look David had adopted on his face
"Well, you had tried everything, and now this is your last shot, if this doesn't work, then what's the point right?" David said sarcastically "I turn eighteen next year, that means the foster home system doesn't apply to me anymore, so this is technically my last event here, I could get adopted but after this long, is clearly not going to happen," David said letting out a sigh at the end as he stood up and dusted his pants
"There's a kid, about two years old, his name is Ben, he's cute, ask the old woman about him, he should fit what you're looking for," David said looking down at them as he placed his hands in his pockets and started walking away then he turned his head back and looked at Cam and Mitchell with a small smile on his face "It was nice meeting you, good luck old men," David said with a chuckle in his voice as he walked away
Mitchell and Cam looked at each other and then back at the drawing David was painting which now they realized was almost done, the only thing missing were the colors of the wolf's eyes
"Mitchell, I know we said adopting a little boy, but," Cam said with hope in his voice as Mitchell sighed and grabbed Cam's hand and squeeze it
"Let's go talk to Ms. Jackson, I think we found the one," Mitchell said as the couple stood up and walked together back to the office they started this journey
"So, who caught your eye?" The woman asked excitedly as Mitch and Cam looked at each other and nodded to each other agreeing mentally with one another
"His name is David Martinez," Cam said and the woman, who was flipping through some papers, froze and looked at the couple in shock
"Uh, are you sure?" The lady said and before the couple could voice their outrage and confusion the woman kept talking "I mean don't get me wrong, he's a sweet kid but he has a lot of issues, and I thought you wanted a baby," The woman said but started taking out David's file nonetheless
"We thought so too, but we changed our minds," Mitchell said with a small smile on his face "We felt something when we met him, so we think," Mitchell said as he grabbed Cam's hand "We know, we could give him a good home," Mitchell said as the woman looked at them and sighed and presented his file
"David, like most of our older kids, is a special case," The woman said as she handed the file to Mitchell and Cam "His mother died in childbirth, no grandparents from either side," The woman said as Cam and Mitchell looked at the paper
"And his dad?" Cam asked in curiosity looking at the file with Mitchell and then they noticed how silent the woman had become
"Jail, multiple charges of child abuse, he won't be getting out anytime soon," The woman said calmly as she let them process her words
"Wait, what do you mean?" Cam asked scared and Mitchell showed his concern too as his eyes widen in surprise
"We got him when he was twelve, child services took him away after his neighbor heard him screaming, it was a mess, that we have been working on but with him moving from family to family, it's not going great," The woman said with a sigh
"David is pretty much a self-taught person, he learn how to read, how to cook, how to dress, how to behave pretty much on his own, he had to grow up so fast, but he has a fire inside him that comes at the worst times," The woman said as Mitchell looked at the woman in confusion
"He has anger issues, ADHD, and he's dyslexic. which we've been working on, painting, playing soccer, cooking, playing instruments and singing are a few ways he's managing his anger issues," The woman said
"And his ADHD and dyslexia ?" Mitchell asked in curiosity and the woman sighed
"Well he's an active person, soccer also helps with his ADHD, but his dyslexia we caught it two years ago, and he's struggling in subjects that require essays, but as you can see in his file, he's excelling in math, chemistry and drawing subjects," The woman said ending the conversation with a smile
"I know it sounds too much, trust me you're not the first persons who were interested in him but everyone after seeing his file turns him down, he's a good kid, he just has been dealt a bad deck in life, I hope this doesn't change your mind," The woman said and Cam and Mitch who were staring at the file and seeing how serious David looked in his photo well it moved them
"No we aren't, he's coming with us," Cam said as Mitchell nodded agreeing with his partner
"What do we need to do?" Mitch asked in excitement and curiosity
"So are you excited?" Cam asked as Mitchell and he was driving back home with David in the backseat staring out the window
"I don't know, I never stay in a house that long if I'm being honest," David said with a sigh as Mitch and Cam looked at each other uncomfortable "Still this is the farthest I've been to the upper side of California, it looks pretty," David said with a small smile on his face
"You're going to love it here, and you're going to love Lily," Cam said excitedly as David looked at him in confusion
"Your daughter?" David asked in curiosity and Mitch nodded with a smile on his face
"Yeah she's starting kindergarten soon, I hope that's not a problem?" Mitch asked hopefully
"Nah not at all, but she won't be afraid of me? I mean isn't she expecting a little brother?" David asked in confusion and curiosity as Cam and Micthell's eyes winded and looked at each other
"Oh my god, we didn't even tell Lily!" Cam said embarrassed and Mitchell pinched his nose
"God, we were so excited that we forgot to mention it to her, I hope she doesn't get mad," Mitchell said and David chuckle a little
"You people are funny," David said with a snort as Mitch and Cam sighed and chuckled as they arrived at their home David exited first as he stared at the house in wonder
"So, what do you think?" Mitchell asked in curiosity and David looked at him while Cam picked out his stuff from the trunk of the car
"It's lovely, ah I can take care of that," David said grabbing one of his bags from the trunk and Cam smiled at him
"We know, but we want to, so are you ready?" Cam asked excitedly and David shrugged his shoulders
"I guess," David said as he followed Mitch and Cam to the house he felt anxious a little bit and he saw a beautiful home inside which felt good
"Lily! Come here!" Mitch said and David hear little pair of footsteps coming toward them
"Daddies you're back!" David heard the voice of a little girl shouting David saw a small Asian little girl running to hug Cam's right leg
"Hey sweety, come on let's take a seat," Cam said picking Lily up and putting her on the couch on his lap as Mitchell invited David to take a seat on the sofa which the teen did "You remember how we talked about how you were going to have a baby brother?" Cam said rhetorically as Lily nodded and looked at David in confusion
"Well Lily, this is David," Mitchell said as he went to put a hand on David's right shoulder but the teen flinched when he was the hand moving up and Mitch looked at David in concern and put his hand back on his lap "He's going to be staying with us for a while, is that okay to you?" Mitchell said as Lilly looked at David in curiosity tilting his head
"He's not a baby," Lily said flatly getting a snort out of David which made Lily smile a little
"Yes, he's not sweety," Cam said as Lily looked at Cam confused
"So is he going to be my big brother?" Lily asked in curiosity as Cam and Mitchell looked at each other uncomfortable but then David clear his throat
"Sure," David said rubbing his hands together nervously "I always wanted a little sister," David said with a small smile on his face and Lily stepped out from Cam's lap and ran up to David
"Wanna see my paintings?" Lily asked excitedly as David looked at her and then back at Mitch and Cam in confusion and they nodded encouragingly
"Sure thing, just one thing," David said as he looked at Mitch and Cam "Why is there a huge elephant puppet with a yellow t-shirt and BOY written on it on the table?" David asked with a deadpan expression "Better question why is there a huge gorilla puppet next to the other one?" David said pointing at the table behind him with a deadpan expression on his face
"Nothing don't worry about it, just a present from some friends, let's go get yourself settled in your room," Mitch said as David nodded and they walked into the room and David's eyes winded
"Oh dios, it's so blue," David said as the room was filled with the color light sky blue and several white spots that resembled clouds with a rainbow on the wall next to the door "It's, wow, no es tu mucho?" David asked as Mitchell pinched his nose in annoyance as Cam had done it again and went overboard
"It's much isn't it?" Cam said chuckling nervously and David shook his head and chuckled
"Nah don't worry, I mean it's cute, it's clear you were expecting a baby," David said amused as he looked at the walls "But is not really my style misters, I prefer darker colors, as you can see," David said pointing at his clothes with a sarcastic chuckle
"Don't worry, we can go to the hardware store for some painting of your liking, then we need to head to Dad's house for his birthday, and introduce you to the rest of the family," Mitchell said as David's eyes winded
"First day and I'm meeting the rest of the family, Dios santo, I'm going back to foster care in a flash I tell you," David said talking to the cameraman "Also, I don't understand this, the family is in some sort of documental or something? Why are you getting scared dude?" David said in confusion
"Great, uh so Lily can you show me your drawings?" David said as Lilly nodded excitedly and grabbed David's hand and dragged him into her room excitedly
"This is going good, isn't it?" Mitchell asked and Cam grabbed his shoulders and smiled "Still did you have to paint the rainbow?" Mitch asked with a sigh and Cam chuckled nervously
"You know how I get inspired sometimes," Cam said with a laugh and Mitchell shook his head with an exasperated sigh
"So, what should I expect from the family?" David asked Lily as they were waiting for Mitch and Cam to load the black and white painting David had picked up
"They're insane," Lily said in a whisper as David's eyes winded and looked at her a little afraid
"Really? That doesn't reassure me," David said rubbing his face as Lily kept playing with her doll "Still I can't believe you convinced them to get a cat," David said with a chuckle as Lily smiled
"I'm going to name it Larry," Lily said excitedly as Cam and Mitch entered the car in the front seat
"You seem frustrated it's something wrong?" David asked in curiosity and Mitchell sighed as Cam took the stage sort of speak
"The donation center didn't want the puppets, something about the risk of them carrying lice," Cam said and David nodded in understanding
"Yeah no kidding, who in their right mind would want to take such enormous puppets?" David said to the cameraman chuckling
"So, we're going to the cat adoption center, then we're going to Jay's and Gloria's house," Mitch said and David looked at him in confusion
"Ah, sorry we're going to your dad's house, right? Who's Gloria?" David asked in curiosity as Cam and Mitchell looked at David
"Ah yes, Gloria's technically my step-mom, she's Colombian," Mitchell said and David grew more confused "Yeah my dad married a younger girl, you'll get used to it," Mitchell said starting the car as David looked to his right and saw Lily smiling at him
"Insane," Lily whispered as David gulped and looked out the window
The Tucker-Pritchet Family plus David were at the cat adoption center looking at the Cat's and Cam and Mitchell were talking to the manager as David was playing with a small white cat
David had bonded quickly with it and Lily too as she came around from where Cam and Mitchell were
"What do you think? He does look like a Larry, doesn't he?" David said as Lily nodded vigorously and then David picked up the cat in his arms and they turned around to see Cam and Mitchell arguing with the manager
"What are they doing?" David asked confused and Lily shrugged her shoulders
"Drama queens," Lily said and they saw Mitchell coming towards them and grabbing Lily, and directing her towards the car David noticed that he was Cam was berating the manager
"And just so you know your depriving these animals of a stable home," Cam said to the manager and David meddle in the conversation
"Is everything okay?" David said as Cam looked at him and Cam by looking at him managed to calm himself down "Look Mr. Tucker I know you had a hard year last year, but this process isn't that complicated, just sign the sheet and they'll come just to make sure everything is okay, isn't that right?"David asked with a smile as the manager looked at him and nodded with a small smile on her face
"Yeah, trust me it's just a simple visit, not that hard," The manager said as David looked at Cam
"Besides, when the old woman from foster care comes, if she sees a pet she will be glad and give you a good review," David said to Cam as he sighed and grabbed the form, and signed it "Don't worry ma'am these guys are good animal people, I'm sure of it," David said
And as soon as he said that Mitch drive towards the sideway bumping up the car and making the puppets move in a sexual innuendo that confused the manager a little bit
"Well most of the time," David said with a chuckle as he handed her back the white cat
After a few minutes when Cam and Mitch tried to fix the positions of the puppets, David noticed that they gave up and that they were a little sad, so he got out of the car and walked to where they were
"Uh, is everything alright misters?" David asked in concern and curiosity and Cam and Mitchell looked at him
"It's fine David, nothing you should worry about," Mitchell said and Cam nodded as David looked back to the manager and then back at Mitchell and Cam
"This brought back bad memories?" David asked in a curious tone and Cam and Mitch looked at each other in uncertainty "And you also got scared about the foster care visit right?" David said and Cam and Mitchell sighed and nodded
"We're too transparent huh?" Cam said rhetorically and David smiled at them kindly
"Ah, well, I'm Latin, and I'm good at reading people," David said chuckling nervously "But misters you're doing great, there's nothing that should concern you, maybe you just need to take your mind out of things," David said and Mitch's eyes winded
"Like a vacation?" Mitchell asked as David shrugged his shoulders
"Or a day at the beach, an escapade," David said throwing ideas in the air "I'm not a baby, I don't need much to settle in, and you need a break misters, a family trip would be nice," David said and Mitch and Cam's eyes winded in happiness making David grow confused
"What?" David asked in confusion
"You called us a family," Cam said in a high-pitched voice David's eyes widen in realization and he blushed a little
"Ah, um don't get too excited, it was just a slip, anyway do whatever you want, I don't care," David said nervously and embarrassed as he went back inside the car
Mitch and Cam looked at each other happily "We got our first teenager embarrassment, how exciting!" Cam said and Mitch swatted his arm playfully
"Let's get going, we will talk about the trip and the cat later," Mitch said and Cam looked at him seriously
"Oh no Mitchell, we're getting that cat, that's a fact," Cam said and Micthell sighed in exasperation as they both entered the car and started driving away not realizing the puppets had fallen again in a sexual innuendo position
"Oh, por Dios!" David said as he was staring at the house in front of him frozen and stupefied "Are you folks rich? What in the actual hell?" David asked afraid and Micthell laughed at his reaction
"Come on, let's introduce you to the family," Mitch said and David gulped and took a step back "Don't worry, we got here earlier, for you to settle in and then we will tell them ok?" Mitch said and David sighed and nodded
"Tu puedes David, son solo personas," David whispered to himself trying to encourage himself up as the group entered the house and nobody welcomed them
"They must be busy, get yourself comfortable David," Cam said as David nodded and felt thirsty and decided to head to the kitchen for a cup of water which he figured was on the right
And when he turned right he bumped into someone but managed to grab the person's arm before they could fall over
In front of David was a tan white girl with brown eyes and silk brown hair, she was wearing a dark blue dress and a black sweater around her and some black boots, to David she was cute but he got rid of those thoughts and replaced them with concern as he helped her straighten up
"Are you okay?" David asked letting go of her arm "I'm so sorry I didn't look where I was going," David said as she saw the girl rubbing her forehead as her head had bumped into David's chest
Haley, the girl David had bumped, opened her eyes and prepared herself to berate the person who had bumped her but when she did her mind froze as she realized that the person she bumped into was really cute and she lost her words
"Hellooo? Yuhu?" Haley returned to the real world when she saw the teen in front of her snapping his fingers in front of her eyes "You didn't get a concussion, right? It would be a bad impression if I injure someone here, especially such a cute person," David rambled but Hayle heard every word and blushed a little
"Uh, who are you?" Haley asked and David who was scratching his head nervously looked down at Haley whose height of 5'1 Ft was small in comparison to David's 5'7 ft
"Ah right, name's David, David Martinez, I'm Mr. Pritchett and Mr. Tucker's ward for the time being," David said putting a hand forward "And you are?" David asked in curiosity
"Haley," The girl said grabbing his hand and shaking it "Haley Dunphy, nice to meet you, not to be rude but a ward?" Haley asked in curiosity slash confusion
"They're my guardians for the moment, I'm a foster kid," David clarify as Haley let out an ah of understanding and they let go of each other's hands
"So, good news and bad news," They heard another person say as both of them look up to see a lanky tall teen with black hair standing next to Haley "Your mom let me stay but I think my cousin Dylan might get sad," The teen said as Haley smiled and then the large teen noticed David
"Oh, I didn't know Mr. and Ms. Pritchett got a housekeeper," Dylan said and David didn't know if he should be offended or concerned about the guy's stupidity
"They didn't," David said with uncertainty and confusion and looked at Haley "Boyfriend?" He asked in curiosity and Haley nodded with a sigh and sadly like she was ashamed and didn't want to say yes
She, thanks to her experience in dating, recognized her hesitance, the boy in front of her was cute, and she knew she and Dylan wouldn't last long, so she wanted a shot with the teen in front of her, at she consider herself lucky that she was going to see him more often, clearly forgetting she was going off to college
"Shame," David said with a smirk on her face getting a chuckle out of Haley "Nice to meet you, Haley," David said walking away as Haely stared at his back, biting her lower lip in the process
"So, I'm thinking of getting a pet snake or maybe a mouse, what do you think?" Dylan said and Haley looked at him and sighed walking away with Dylan trailing behind
(Warning, Gloria's and David's conversation is going to be in Spanish, I'll try to explain it the best I can, translating what they're saying after what they say in Spanish, thanks)
David got to the kitchen and the first thing he saw was a beautiful forty-something-year-old woman pacing around the kitchen back and forth, and David first thought of leaving her alone but she kind of reminded him of the nice neighbor he had growing up so he deiced to gather her attention
"Uh excuse me, ma'am," David asked as the woman keep pacing back and forth
"No le va agradar, estoy segura que le va a dar un infarto, como pude ser tan idiota, voy a tener que cuidar a este bebe sola, por Dios, que va pensar Manny, y la familia, que estaba pensando," Gloria mumbled to herself about how she was scared of telling Jay she was pregnant and how she was pretty sure that Jay would probably get a heart attack
But she stopped mumbling when she felt someone poking her shoulder lightly and she turn around to see David looking at her in concern
"Señora esta bien? Escuche algo de un bebe y un infarto, y esas cosas no deben de ir juntas," David said referring to her mumbling and how the words Baby and heart attack together shouldn't go together
"Quien eres?" Gloria asked wondering who the teen was
"Yo? David, David Martinez," David said introducing himself and putting a hand forward as Gloria shook his hand
"Puerto Riqueño?" Gloria asked and David shook his head no
"Mexican," David said and Gloria nodded in understanding "Chileña?" David asked in curiosity and Gloria shook her head
"Colombiana," She said and David nodded in understanding
"Tiene sentido, por el acento y todo vaya," David said realizing she was Colombian by the accent and all, and then he went to the dishwasher and grab a glass, and started pouring water from the fridge "Asi que, cual es el problema? ¿Por qué esta tan alterada seño?" David said asking why she was freaking out and accidentally call her old lady and gulped in fear when he saw Gloria glaring at him, maybe it wasn't a good idea to call her old lady
"A quien le estas llamando seño, eh?" Gloria said and David chuckled nervously
"Perdon?" David said sorry trying to get out of a scolding and Gloria sighed and pinched her nose
"No, yo lo siento, este día ha sido demasiado estresante," Gloria said talking about how stressing her day was "Ni puedo creer que este hablando de esto con un niño que ni conozco," Gloria said chuckling as she was talking about how she was prepare to vent her frustration to a kid she didn't even knew
"Latinos se entienden entre ellos no?" David said talking about how Latin people should trust one another "Si le sirve de Consuelo, los señores Mitchell y Cameron son mis guardianes por el momento," David said talking about how Mitch and Cam had become his guardians for the foreseeable future and Gloria raised an eyebrow in curiosity
"Guardianes?" Gloria asked in curiosity and confusion
"Sistema de adopcion, foster kid, le llaman aquí," David said talking about how he was a foster kid and Gloria's eyes winded in realization
"Ah vaya que maravilla! Bienvenido a la familia!" Gloria said happily trying to welcome him to the family by hugging him but she stopped when she saw David taking a step back
"Eh, no me gustan mucho el contacto físico, malas experiencias," David said talking about how he didn't like physical contact and Gloria put her hands down
"Lo entiendo, un niño allá en Colombia también era así, pero su niñez era una mierd, ¡oh no!" Gloria said talking about a story of how a kid back in Colombia was like him but the kid had a rough childhood and then she stopped and realized that David was exactly like that kid
"Sip, mi estúpido padre está en prisión por abuso infantil, adivina a quien abuso?" David said with a sarcastic chuckle telling her about his past without saying too much
"Ay cariño, lo siento tanto," Gloria said with sympathy as she felt sorry for the teen in front of her
"No se preoucupe, ese pendejo recibió su merecido," David said telling her that his father got what he deserved as he rubbed the knuckles of his right hand with a sort of nostalgic look but blinked and shook his head "Bueno, cambiando de tema, que es lo que le preocupa señora?" David asked trying to find whatever was concerning Gloria exactly and decided to take a sip of his glass of water
"Estoy embarazada," She said after taking a breath and David choked up on his water surprised that she was pregnant, and coughed as he tried to clear his throat
"Ah, bueno eso explica la parte del bebe," David said talking about how earlier she was mumbling something about a baby "Eh, felicidades, te preocupa tu esposo o que?" David said congratulations to her and asked about her husband since he figured out that must be the case
"Si, eres bastante perspicaz, mi esposo no es joven, me da miedo que se asuste y me deje," Gloria said telling about her fears of scaring her husband and her fears of him leaving her
"Eh, no creo que eso pase," David said telling he didn't think her husband would leave her "Digo, el señor Mitchell y el señor Cameron me hablaron de ti, probablemente para que pudiera conectar con alguien quien sabe, ¿pero tienes un hijo no?" David said telling her that Mitch and Cam had told him about her a bit and she nodded her head "Se caso contigo y no abandono a tu hijo antes, no creo que lo haga ahora," David said telling her that her husband stayed with her other kid and that he didn't think he would leave her with this new one "Aparte es un guerito, los gueritos no hacen eso," David said joking about how white people didn't leave their kids, with a snort on his voice and Gloria sighed and chuckled
"Tienes razón, perdón por ser tan histérica, probablemente te asuste, no es una muy buena primera impresión," Gloria said shyly thinking her troubles weren't making a good first impression on David and the teen smiled at her
"No claro que no, yo entiendo, al menos te pude ayudar un rato no?" David said with a small smile on his face as he managed to calm Gloria down as she smiled at him
"Gracias, de nuevo bienvenido a la familia, te va a gustar aquí," Gloria said telling him that he would like it here with a smile as David sighed and rubbed his face
"Eso espero, si esto no funciona ya no tengo otra oportunidad," David said and Gloria moved closer to him but didn't try to touch him which David appreciate it and he knew that she wanted to hear more "Ah ni si quiera se por que te digo esto, apenas y nos conocemos," David said chuckling as he told her that he didn't know why he had such trust with her and Gloria grabbed his hand tentatively and David flinched but let her anyway
"Latinos se entienden entre ellos no?" Gloria said squeezing his hand and repeating his words from earlier and David chuckled
"Tienes Jícama? Tanta platica me dio hambre," David said telling her that he got hungry from all the talk they had been having and Gloria smiled at him
"Refrigerador, ultimo cajón," Gloria said telling him where the food that he wanted was David smiled and went to the freezer and picked out a box of jicama
"Asi que, dile a la tia Gloria tus problemas," Gloria said telling him to tell everything to his new auntie as David smiled at her with a mischievous look
"Que no técnicamente eres mi nueva abuela?" David said sarcastically and his eyes winded in fear as Gloria glared at him again because he called her his grandma "Esta bien, tia suena major," David clarified as he started cutting the jicama and eating it
Meanwhile, the rest of the family had gathered in front of the entrance as they heard Jay coming towards the house "We're back!" Phil said as he and Jay walked through the door to be welcomed by everyone
"Dad, come here!" Claire whispered forcefully bringing him close to him "Listen to me, someone is about to give you some important news and for the first time in your life, I need you to react nicely," Claire said whispering and Jay looked at her in confusion
"I always react nicely," Jay said and before Claire could continue Jay felt someone touching his back
"Happy birthday Dad!" Mitch said happily as he hugged Jay and Claire bent down to squeeze Lily's cheeks who had walked alongside Mitch to the entrance "Actually we wanted to talk to you, to the whole family, we have some important news," Mitch said and Jay looked at him with his curiosity peaked
"We're adopting a cat!" Cam said excitedly joining the conversation Mitch was preparing to scold him for forgetting about David but then he noticed that the family was gathered by the entrance and couldn't complain
"Well isn't this wonderful, that's a heck of a decision, but I know I'll love the heck of the little guy," Jay said with a smile on his face missing the look Claire was giving him "I'm just hoping that one over there doesn't get jealous," He said pointing at Stella but Manny, who was standing next to her took offense to that
"Oh this little one will be just fine now knowing where he stands," Manny said angrily "In the shadow of your new baby!" Manny said huffing and crossing his arms as everyone looked at him confused
"What is he talking about?" Jay asked confused and before anyone could offer a response everyone heard two sets of laughter coming from the kitchen, one that everyone recognized easily and the other they didn't but they realized it was a male
So everyone walked to the kitchen and the scene they found confused everyone except Mitchel and Cam, both of them were happy with what they saw because, in front of them, they saw a smiling and laughing David talking with Gloria who was also smiling and laughing
"Nah, nah, Mexico es mejor, tenemos a los mejores cantantes," David said with a chuckle as Gloria scoffed at him
"Claro que no!, nosotros temenos a Shakira, Carlos Vives, entre otros," Gloria said listing all the singers from Colombia trying to one up David
"Pero no son Juan Gabriel ni Luis Miguel," David said his singers trying to one-up her too and she laughed and shook his head "Ademas aqui los gringos comen tacos, comida Mexicana, no Colombiana, supera eso," David said cheekily of how Mexican food was better than Colombian food and Gloria grumbled
"No es mi culpa que estos gringos no sepan mejor," Gloria said grumbling making David laugh harder at her temporary loss then their conversation was stopped when they heard a clearing of the throat on their right making them turn to look there
There they saw all the Pritchett, Dunphy, and Tucker families watching them in a mix of confusion and amusement as Jay raised an eyebrow at Gloria in curiosity
"Ah Dad this is a part of the news we had," Mitch said as he and Cam Looked at the family and Mitch pointed at David "Family, this is David, he's our foster kid for the time being, he will be staying with me and Cam," Mitch said and the families eyes winded as David munched on his food to let them process it
The conversation ranged from shock to confusion, to excitement, as David kept munching on his food and looking at the family in wonder
"So, you adopt him? What about the baby you wanted?" Jay asked in curiosity as David looked at Mitch and Cam in curiosity and tilted his head
"We wanted but he made us think differently, we found something," Cam said and David smiled and stood up
"Hi, I'm David Martinez, nice to meet you all, I hope we get along and all that stuff," David said nonchalantly making some of the family members chuckle at his words "I would like to keep talking, but I feel someone else here has some more exciting news," David said looking at Gloria with a smile on his face
Gloria sighed and walked to where Jay was and looked him straight in the eye "I'm pregnant," Gloria said narrowing her eyes towards Jay "And I'm not worried if you leave, I come from a strong line of independent women, and I will survive on my own," Gloria said angrily and Jay looked at her afraid and confused
"Can I talk now?" Jay asked sarcastically and Gloria nodded "These news are great, we got two new additions to the family and you gave me what I needed the most today," Jay said confusing Gloria "I spend all day hearing what my life had for me in stored for me in the future, and I didn't like it one bit, and now you're telling me I have a do-over, a fresh start?" Jay said with a huge smile on his face
"This is the best news I could ever have," Jay said with a huge smile as he made Gloria tear up a bit
"Im going to get so fat!" Gloria said crying as the family celebrated this news with her and made a group hug
Meanwhile, David kept eating his food and looking at the scene in curiosity, he didn't mind not being in the group hug, he figured they were used to just being them and they will take time to accommodate him with everyone, and besides he preferred not to be touched anyhow but Jay's words did stir something inside of him
"A fresh start huh?" David thought as he saw the family separating themselves his eyes crossed with Haley's for a moment and she offered him a small smile "Now, that doesn't sound so bad,"
End of Chapter 1