Heyyyy so I'm back with chapter four! Not much to say about this one besides the fact that it's pretty much pointless fun and sets up the next chapter, which will conclude the 'setup arc' I have going on.

Disclaimer: I own nada.

Now, on with the show!

As they all loaded up into the car, Tech huffed and turned the ignition. He most certainly was not happy about this, but it'd have to do. His whole system was always messed up when one of his brothers decided to tag along. From the front passenger's seat, Echo gave him a small, pitiful smile. The slight acknowledgement of Tech's emotions was enough to get him to the grocery store. Once there, however…

"This is chaos," Tech mumbled to himself, checking the list again to confirm his suspicions that the chips Wrecker had just put into the cart were, in fact, not on there.

"Aww, loosen up, ad'ika," Hunter requested, though he did put the chips back on the shelf.

Tech smiled very slightly at the nickname. He'd only ever allowed Hunter to use it, despite Echo having been born five months prior to them. Speaking of Echo, he came up next to the mechanic and started to explain the plan until the budget could be adjusted.

"We'll start with our regulars, then spend the money that usually goes into Hunter's hair care on toiletries and extra food for Omega."

Hunter didn't look too happy about the suggestion but stayed quiet.

"I suppose we could cut back on our movie nights until we get settled," Tech suggested. "We shall instead spend that money on clothes for her–"

"What's a movie night?"

Omega, who was riding on the front of the cart, finally looked up to ask an innocent question, but one that jogged memories of an elderly grandfather putting on an old classic for the first time one Friday evening after work. Hunter was quick to explain.

"It's when we all sit down and watch a movie in the living room together every few weeks. Usually we have popcorn, sometimes candy…"

"Sometimes we have a marathon and watch more than one movie with pizza and ice cream!" Wrecker chimed in, excited about this new prospect. "We hafta show her!"

Tech adjusted his glasses. "It will have to wait. Getting Omega properly fed and clothed is far more important at the moment."

He resumed pushing the cart and continued along down the aisle as multiple faces fell.

…

"What about furniture? Bedsheets? Books and toys? Is she too young for a phone to call us?"

Echo chuckled.

"I never much figured you one as a parent," he commented to Crosshair as they were wrapping up.

The others had stopped to the side of the store, trying to figure out what to do since Hunter wanted to knock out a ton of places at once to get the chores off the list, but Tech had pointed out that there currently was no list and that they had frozens. Omega and Wrecker were looking at the candy (forbidden to get anything, of course) while the older two argued for a little while.

"Oh, and you are?" Cross shot back with a bit of venom.

Echo stopped bagging and looked up. "Hey, I'm more qualified than you."

Crosshair didn't even try to hide his smirk.

"Says the guy who spent six days faking a fever to cover up his delirium story to get out of trouble with the high school for vandalism."

"Hey, I did that so Fives wouldn't get suspended!" He raised an accusatory prosthetic to his half-brother.

"That's your really your argument? A great example of a role-model. Admit it, you're just not cut out for this. And if your 'qualifications' include little Tano, Rex and Skywalker did more raising than you did."

Echo was on the verge of literally growling when Hunter came up from behind Cross. Tech followed closely after gathering Wrecker and Omega with minimal lack of cooperation.

"Okay, knock it off you two. We have a plan now, so listen up, boys!"

All four men stood a little straighter as instinct kicked in from Hunter's certified Sargent Voice. After a quick glance around her brothers, Omega followed suit.

"We'll all head back to the house and put the groceries away, then Tech and I will take Omega out again for the essentials. You three will stay and start putting together her room."

"Uhhh, Hunter, what room?" Wrecker rubbed the back of his head as he asked.

"Great question. Tech?" Hunter turned to the resident planner as he stepped up to explain.

"The upstairs closet will be an adequate domicile, at least for a few years. It was meant to be a guest bedroom, anyway. Everything in there can go down into the basement for storage."

Three faces stared blankly at him.

"What?" Tech queried in response.

"We have a basement?" Crosshair voiced the question in their minds.

"Of course we have a basement," Tech scoffed with an eye roll.

A polite 'ahem' from the cashier suggested they get back to bagging. They did so and as they were starting to walk out, a baffled Cross with wide eyes could be heard mumbling "We don't even get tornadoes."

So fun fact when I started this fic (almost a year ago, geez) I spent an atrocious amount of time obsessing over the floor plans that I created for my very specific vision of the house. At one point I toyed with the idea of Omega living in the basement, but decided against it. Still, I thought I'd have some fun at the end there hehe.

Please feel free to review so I know real people are actually reading this and I'll see ya next time!