After delivering his apology letters and brainstorming with Nan, Hobie was allowed to come back after a couple weeks.

"Are you coming to visit today?" Jess looked at the young man in her doorway.

He responded to her with a nod, "Can I come play with Miguel and Gunner? I'm gonna be good."

"Are you sure?" She raised her brows at him, "You haven't been very good the last couple times. And I really don't feel like fussing today."

Hobie hugged Lizzy, looking to the ground in shame, "I promise I'm gonna be good mama. I am, I'm going to keep my hands to myself and be nice and share."

Jess couldn't honestly say she was convinced, but she still wanted to give him the benefit of the doubt and allow him to prove himself. This was an adjustment for everyone.

"Ok, if you are a good boy you can come and play. But I do not want any hitting, yelling or anything of the like. Do you understand me?"

A confirmation nod.

"It's been a very peaceful couple of days and I want today to be one too," she stepped aside to let him in.

"Yes mama," he hurried into the house, taking his shoes off, "Is daddy home?"

"Yes, we're in the front room. Miguel should either be in the playroom or his room."

"Ok," he finally slipped out of his shoes and went to greet Virgil.

X

Miguel was relaxing with his 3D puzzle. This one was a coffee machine.

"Hi Miggy," Hobie waved from the doorway.

He threw a glare at the rocker, "Go away."

"I'm sorry about being mean. I wont be mean anymore, honest."

Miguel ignored him, focusing on the puzzle.

"Can I help?"

"I don't need your help, I want to do it by myself."

"Oh. Ok," he hugged Lizzy, shuffling in place, "Can I do a puzzle too?"

"I don't care," he waved his hand, wanting to be left alone to focus.

Punk grinned, rushing to the cubby to choose one. He sat inspecting all of Miguel's puzzles. Rather the ones he was allowed to have in his room, "This one has a turtle on it. Can I do this one?"

"Yeah," Mig placed another piece.

Hobie toddled over, sitting next to 2099 on the floor as he began to pour the pieces out. Miguel glanced, feeling the annoyance leaning on his leg.

Things were nice and quiet, as they normally started. Miguel wanted Hobie out of his room, but he tried to ignore him since he was being Ok.

Tap tap tap.

"Hey boys, I'm just coming to check on you," Jess looked around the room, making sure it was still in one piece.

"We're doing puzzles together," Hobie pointed, "Mine has a turtle."

"It does?" She made her way in, kneeling down to check out the box, "Oh, that's a nice one. Didn't we get this from the aquarium?"

"I think so," he checked, "Nan got me a beluga whale plate when we went. It's my favorite."

"It is? I bet it's really cute," she smiled, "Well have to go somewhere fun again soon. We'll see if we can get a date for everyone and go to the zoo."

"I want to go to the zoo!" He bounced in excitement, "Don't you wanna go to the zoo?" He shook Miguel's leg.

"Yeah, that sounds really fun," he muttered.

"I want to see the zebra and the peacock! Oh, oh! And the wild dogs," he bounced again.

Jess couldn't help but find his excitement so endearing, "Ok, I'll talk to Brema and we'll try to go. Maybe we can have Rio or Sharon come with us this time."

Hobie beamed as mama tapped his nose. He hoped they could go soon.

"Which puzzle are you doing, pumpkin?"

Mig rested his chin on his wrist, "My coffee machine."

"Just like daddy, so happy to put your little coffee maker together," she teased, caressing his cheekbone.

Miguel leaned towards the touch, "Parker got it for me."

"That was so nice of him," she stood from the ground, "You boys keep playing nice, mommy is going to go get you both something to snack on."

"Kiss?" Miguel reached up, receiving a smooch.

"Me too, mama, me too," Hobie reached for her, exchanging kisses, "And Lizzy."

Jess smiled, giving Lizzy a kiss too, "Does Invernio or Alfredo want a kiss?"

"Yea," Migs hurried and held them both up so they could receive their affection as well.

"Ok, I'll be right back."

Hobie hugged Lizzy before turning his attention to Miguel, "How is your puzzle?"

Mig subtly frowned, remembering he was there, "It's going fine. Yours?"

"I'm like a fourth done. I like yours," he took the box, seeing what the finished product would look like, "I can't wait to see when it's done."

"Yeah."

"And snacks," Jess handed each boy a bowl with fruit and mini pancakes. Hobie getting his bottle of juice while Miguel got a sippy cup.

They both said their thank yous and went back to their toys.

X

"Miguel?" Hobie called, "Can we play together please? I want to go to the playroom."

"I'm still doing my puzzle," he arranged a few more pieces, still having probably a quarter left to assemble, "You can go to the playroom."

"But I really want someone to play with," he pouted, clearly bored, "I'm tired of quiet play."

"I'm almost done, ok. Just go and play with Gunner and as soon as I'm done I'll come play with you both. Or you go play in the front room."

Punk sulked, "Ok," he stood, starting to leave. He was unaware that the toddler had made his way into the room in an attempt to steal his bottle and tripped over him, accidently stepping on Miguel's puzzle and falling on top of him.

Mig stared at the scattered pieces.

"Sorry," Hobie quickly climbed off, trying to gather the pieces and put them back near him, "I'm sorry."

2099 slammed his palm down, "This always happens when you're here!"

"I'm sorry, it was an accident," Hobie whimpered, "I didn't know Gunner came up."

Mig glared at him, opening a portal. Soon as it was opened enough he snatched the rabbit from the floor and threw her in, closing it.

Hobie screamed, jumping up and down in panic, "No, no! Lizzy!"

Miguel's eyes widened at the stark realization and started opening the portal up as Hobie ran from the room.

"Oh no, oh no!"

"That wasn't nice!" Lyla scolded.

"I know, I didn't mean to! Where did she go?" He rushed through the portal, looking around, "Lizzy!? Lizzy!" He searched about where he had thrown her, "Is this the right dimension?"

"Yes it is, and you had better find that rabbit right now!" The sprite crossed her arms.

Mig sniffed around, after a moment he found the rabbit, in a pile of grass, "I'm sorry, Lizzy, I'm so sorry," he dusted her off and gave it a hug.

His watch began to open at the same time as the portal.

"Miguel O'Hara," Jess glared, "Where are you?"

He winced at her tone, hurrying through the portal back into his room, nearly into them both.

"I'm sorry, Hobie, I'm really really sorry," he held the rabbit out to him.

Jess snatched the rabbit from him and gave it to the crying young man hugging her side, "Shame on you! Of all things, Miguel!"

"I didn't mean to!"

"Now if anyone had done that to Invernio or Alfredo you would have went on a rampage! I ought to get my spatula and wear you out!"

2099 felt an inch tall, "I'm sorry, I really am. I don't know why I did it. I…I didn't mean to."

Jess glared at him, "Ok, this is going to stop, every time you two are left alone. Clearly there is some type of disconnect when it comes to your behavior.

"Hobie," she took his arm, "Didn't I say I didn't want to fuss?"

Punk looked at her in shock, "No, mama, I didn't!"

"I want you to visit and come have fun, but this constant bickering is taking the peace from my home," she began.

Tears streamed down Hobie's face as he gripped his rabbit, facing the ground, "I'm sorry, mama, I'm sorry!"

"And you," she pointed to her biggest child, "I don't care what he did."

"Don't be mad at him," Miguel pulled punk from her hold, "Please don't be mad at him. Don't send him away," he begged, "He didn't do anything."

Jess crossed her arms, watching Miguel encompass the boy in a hug. She could see him reverting back to the abused little boy, protecting his brother. And Hobie clinging to him, a child finally getting the protection he needed.

"I'm sorry, I was mean, I was really mean. Hobie didn't do anything, it was an accident," Mig's voice broke, "He was good, I was really bad and mean. Please don't send him away. I'm sorry, Hobie, I shouldn't have."

Mommy sighed at his begging, "OK, we need to talk. Hobie, I want you to go downstairs with daddy. And Miguel, I need to talk to you now."

2099 watched her, still holding punk away.

"Let him go, I'm going to talk to him after I talk to you."

Mig sulked, releasing Hobie, but Hobie didn't let him go.

Jess sighed and called to her husband.

"Right here," Virgil had decided to make his way up the stairs shortly after Punk had come crying to Jess.

"Can you please take Hobie and Gunner. Miguel and I need to have a serious talk."

"On it," he picked his toddler up from the ground and reached between the two, grabbing Hobie's hand, "Come on, string bean, we're going to go downstairs."

Punk sobbed, following the man's pull as he was led from the room.

X

Miguel stood, holding himself as Jess scolded him.

"You can't possibly have an excuse for what you did. Not a single one. But I want to hear what you have to say."

He trembled lightly, "He, he didn't do anything. It was just an accident. I- I was mean," he repeated.

"Yes, what you did was beyond mean," she agreed.

"I just…I wanted to be left alone. But he wasn't being bad," he sniffled.

Jess crossed her arms, looking up at him. He couldn't even meet her eyes as tears began to roll down his cheeks.

"What's wrong?"

Mig whimpered, sitting on the ground.

"Come on baby, talk to mommy," she kneeled down, holding his face, "What's wrong?"

The giant broke, crying into her palms, "I wasn't trying to be mean. I didn't mean to throw Lizzy," he sobbed.

"So why did you?"

"Every time he comes, something happens. I just want you and I want daddy!"

"And we're right here," her eyebrows furrowed, "Where have we gone, huh?"

"You're supposed to be mine, but he's always here now," he sobbed, "You're supposed to be my mami and my daddy. But he keeps calling you that, but you're mine!"

Jess had her light bulb moment. This should have been obvious to her, but she had such little experience with siblings. Having no relationship with her own little brother and only really seeing sibling relationships from the outside.

"Oh, baby," she sighed, giving him a tight hug.

"You were my parents, my good family! Then he wormed his way in and you let him!" he cried into her shoulder.

"Oh Miguelito, we're still your family. You're still our baby. But he needs a family too. Do you think we'll forget about you just because Hobie is here?"

2099 nodded, holding her tighter.

She sighed, cradling his head and rubbing his trembling back, "No one is going to forget about you. You are our baby and we love you so dearly. We can love Hobie too.

"Our love doesn't have a limit where we have to take some love from you to give it to him or Gunner or each other. Our love is a renewable resource, like sunshine. We can love all three of you the same."

She smoothed his hair, "You've had us for a while. Hobie only has Nan, and he's had her for a little bit. There's nothing wrong with him wanting parents. He's not going to steal us away. But you have to share, honey."

"I don't want another little brother," he whined, "I already have one and he's annoying."

"You have GG too. You don't want him?"

"No! I love Gunner. But he's a baby, and he's your real baby. I…I just, I didn't mean to."

"I know you didn't mean to. But you have to have some faith in us, that we're not going to toss you and move on to him. Ok?"

Mig nodded.

"Are you my baby?"

"Y-yes."

"Do you feel safe?"

"Yes."

"Can I have more than one baby?"

He wiped his eyes, nodding.

"Do mommy and daddy love you."

"Y-yes," Mig choked.

"Yes we do, and so do Gunner and Hobie," she caressed his cheek, "And I want you two to get along."

"Please don't send him away."

"I'm not going to send him away," she shook her head, "I'm very proud of you for telling the truth. About him not doing anything and about what you're afraid of. We're going to go talk to him."

2099 nodded, wiping his face as she kissed his forehead.

X

"Shhh, shhh," Virgil hugged Hobie tight.

"Mama's gonna kick me out!" He cried, "I was good today, I was!"

"Mommy's going to talk to you, she didn't say she was going to kick you out. She's just going to talk to you."

He soaked Virgil's shoulder in hot tears, "Miguel doesn't like me anymore! And you and mama don't want me here!"

"Who said we don't want you? We're just trying to find out what happened, that's all. We just want to know what's going on, ok, honey?"

Jess made it to the front room, Miguel following her pull, "So many tears."

Punk saw her and immediately clung to her, "I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"

"Shh, you don't have anything to be sorry about."

"I'm sorry I've been bad, don't send me away again!"

"No one is sending you away," she rubbed his back, "Promise we're not sending you away."

"Promise?"

"Promise, promise. Miguel wants to talk to you."

Mig shuffled, looking at his feet, "I'm sorry I threw Lizzy, I'm sorry I was mean. I'm sorry Lizzy."

Hobie sniffled, hugging 2099, "I'm sorry I've been mean to you, Miguel, I'm really sorry, I'm not trying to be. I'm sorry I pinched you and drew in your book. Sorry I keep getting you in trouble."

Mig tensed momentarily, before hugging him back, "I forgive you."

"I think you two should stay down here with us," Virgil told them, "That away everyone can take a breather and we can all have a cool down."

Miguel nodded, still rubbing Hobie's neck.

"You two are making Gunner sad," Jess offered the whimpering toddler his pacifier, "He wants his big brothers to get along, can we do that?"

"We will, we will," Hobie quickly agreed, "I won't be mean anymore honest."

"Good," Virgil popped a pacifier in his mouth, "Now, why don't you two play down here?"