*Chapter 37*

"Nooo! I was so close, I was already winning!!" Jane cursed at me, ready to strangle me as we were playing Mario Kart and lost the first place just before the finish line because of me.

"Well, you suck and I don't," I stuck my tongue out.

"You guys have no say, I would have totally won the game if that spiny shell, hadn't hit me and made me fall from the cliff," Pixie complained.

Out of us four who played, it was only Collin who didn't utter a word. Well he simply sucked. According to him, he never really get to play that game very often. Whatever, it was still funny watching him making all of the mistakes.

The next track was put on pause once Memphis brought in some snacks for all of us." It was the first time I had been to Memphis place and it was nice here.

"Hey there ain't no sweets here," I mourned about the lack of candy, I had been waiting for.

"Deal with it," Collin commented, still in the bad mood from taking the last place in the game. But again, he always seems to be in a bad mood.

Then the entrance door suddenly opened as all our heads turned to the side. It was a woman, maybe in her early twenties. Thus, she was quite young and also pretty with her long blond her and brown eyes.

"Oh hey honey," Memphis greeted her.

"Huh?! Is this his girlfriend?" I questioned the others.

"Why are you so surprised?" The woman asked me with a smile. "Now that I notice, I don't think I've seen you before. I'm Alice."

I still looked at her with wide eyes. When Pixie brought me back to my senses with a light hit on the shoulder. "Oh yeah, I'm Quentin."

"Moron," I heard Collin mutter which is why I threw him a mocking glance.

"Nice to see everyone again." She smiled as everyone returned the words.

"Stop looking so stupid, baby," Zaron chuckled.

"Can't help it, I can't believe Memphis has a girlfriend." I somehow got so used with him calling me 'baby'. I used to hate it since my ex-boyfriends always used to call me that. But it has a different touch when he said it.

"So Quentin, I heard you are going to move in with Zaron?" Memphis curiously wanted to know some details.

"Yeah, starting from next week I'll start packing. I was already half living there anyway. Besides, his place is closer to the university I'm going for."

"That'll be so funny. I bet you don't even know how to cook nor use washing machines," Jane laughed.

"Not true, I can cook. As for the washing and other chores, I'll learn them. I mean, it cant be that hard," I shrugged.

"Yeah, yeah sure. Don't go saying things you can't promise," Zaron smirked, making me pout.

"If I may ask," Alice who meanwhile had joined us intruded. "What relation do you two have?" She seemed a little confused.

"Oh well Zaron is my boyfrie- uh fiance, I mean. Never gonna get used to it," scratched my neck with a slight smile.

"What?! Since when are you gay Zaron? Wow wow wow he's so young. Fiance??" She was shook. In that moment my phone rang and in since Zaron was closest to it asked him to pick it up and put it on loud.

"Why haven't you read my texts, you idiot??!" It was Ace's voice that got me curious. He normaly hates calling people, he was rather the one to write hundred messages before daring to call, especially when it comes to me.

"I've been trying to tell you to come home!" Come home? I frowned. What for? And as if he already knew my question, he answered it. "Dad came home an hour ago."

My jar dropped at his words, when I jumped up in hurry, making myself ready to leave. "Zaron get in the car, we're leaving!" He didn't question it as he hung up on Ace to follow me.

"We gotta go, guys," he waved at the others who were a little perplexed from our sudden abruptness before he closed the door.

"Oh my god, oh my god. Over a year, I haven't seen him for over one year," I leaned my head against the steering wheel as excitement rushed through my body.

"Ugh, I got to meet your father for the first time in person," Zaron half grinned after I started the engine to drive my way back home.

Just once we arrived at my place, the door was already opened like they were waiting for me. I bit my lips in hesitation and conserns when I heard the voices. Though that immediately flew away as soon as Zaron held my hand.

"Are we going?" He cocked his eyebrows.

"Of course," I grinned and eventually entered, following the voices to the living room. Everyone was already there, eagerly talking to father as I slowly approached them until everyone's eyes fell on me except of father's since his back was facing me.

I mischievously let go of Zaron to approach my father and scare him. He didn't turn around until I was up close, screaming 'boo' and shook his shoulders. Though he quickly reacted, grabbed my arms, threw me over and held me down.

"Ow," I groaned in pain and my obvious defeat. "No need to exaggerate like that," I sulked.

"What did you expect?" Father ruffled my hair and helped me back up right before he engulfed me in a tight hug. "Nice to see you again," he sighed. It sounded like he had a burden that finally fell of his shoulder after a long time.

"Yeah, missed you, too, old man." I smiled as we let go due to his curiosity towards Zaron who was still nonchalantly standing at the side with a slight smile. "You already met Zaron, right?"

"Of course, how would I forget," he smirked and well-manneredly shook his hand. "Good to see you in person. And with some clothes on."

"Yeah," he embarrassely nodded that I couldn't hold back the giggle.

"So they already met," Jin whispered to me with a questioning look.

"Yeah somehow," I shrugged.

"So, I have heard," Dad turned to me and grabbed my hand. He fixed his eyes on my ring. He was silent for a few seconds when he pursed his lips. "I can't believe you said yes when he proposed to you with a gold ring. Silver would have been so much better."

"I told him so," I accused Zaron.

"I'm sorry, okay?" He got clearly upset about those situation when I was obviously half joking. So cute.

"But the design is indeed remarkable," Dad nodded at the sharp engravings.

"Are you sure you only want to talk about that after you finally came home," Myles rolled his eyes.

"He's got a point," Ace nodded.

"Yup," Ramon briefly raised his hand and agreed to them.

"Shut up, if you want to get attention, go get yourselves cute girlfriends," the old man waved them away. That was enough to get them silent.

"Anyway," I changed the subject. "What do you think about ordering some pizza?" Thankfully, everyone agreed, getting back to their usual self as I went ahead to order the food.

"So how long will you stay?" Ramon questioned that probably everyone wanted to know.

"A month. Seeing how I have something to do not far from here, why not just stay for a bit longer. Besides I was thinking of getting some helping hands from you."

"Amazing!!" Everyone cheered, except for me. Well, I already had other thoughts.

"I won't though," I raised my voice.

"W-what do you mean you won't?" Dad frowned.

"That's what I said. You know I'm preparing for university. Means, I'm gonna get myself a job later. There is no time nor space for it," I explained. Dad was obviously displeased. No one uttered a word. My brothers already knew about it. "Not that I really want to do it anymore, I found something rather someone else I'm more interested in." I shot a brief look at Zaron who didn't exactly knew what we were talking about.

Father gritted his teeth and clenched his fists having his eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Wow," he sighed. I bit my lips, afraid of his reaction. "It's not that I didn't already assume it. But hearing you say it is still frustrating."

"So you're not mad?" I raised my eyebrows.

"Why would I be mad? You're old enough to live your own life," he shrugged. "Such a waste, though. You could've been really successful."

In that moment the bell rang. So I got up to open the door, a bit too excited about the food when my jar dropped at the sight of the person that was standing there.

"W-What? Huh? You? Here? Why?" I stuttered in surprise.

He just smiled. "Can I come in?" It was Raven.

"Huh? Yeah of course." I made enough space for him to enter before closing the door as we both head to the living room.

"Is the food finally-" Ramon stopped as soon as his eyes fell on our oldest brother. "There."

"Raven? Is that you," Jin stood up with wide eyes. "N-no way!"

"Yes, it's me," he smiled and settled down on one of the empty places. "Good to see everyone, again."

"So that's how the family happily reconciliates," Dad commented with a chuckle. Though in the same second Myles grabbed a pillow and threw it at Raven which he could have easily dodge, but I'm positive he let Myles hit him on purpose.

"Good to see eveeyone?? Yeah my ass! You damn idiot! You think you can just come swaggering up in our house after so many god damn years of basically shutting us out?! What the fuck is wrong with you?!!" Myles spat at him. And judged by everyone's eyes I could see that they wanted to freak out just as bad as he did.

"Or maybe not so happy." Dad changed his mind.

"Yeah, I'm sorry," Raven apologized. Though that was clearly not enough. "I somehow had my reasons."

"Oh please you can save that sorry ass of yours. You better give us a damn well explanation if you don't want us to kick your face out of here," Ace threatened.

I didn't say anything. My hand were just clenched, almost turning white. And as soon as Zaron noticed, he immediately loosend my fist and replaced his hand in them. I looked at him after that gesture. He had a soft expression. Neverthess, I just looked away in anger.

Raven's gaze swept over to me with a half-hearted smile. "Why are you staying so quiet?" I pressed my lips to a thin line. "Is it because you know?"

"It doesn't matter whether I know or not. What you did was still shitty and cowardly!" I spat.

"What do you mean, you knew? And you didn't say anything??" Ramon narrowed his eyes at me.

"I didn't! Not until two month ago. I just kept quiet because he asked me to." Besides I was still in his debt. It's not like I have a really big say in this.

"Dad, you're not saying anything? Don't tell me you knew what all of this was about, too." Myles crossed his arms.

"Everything, from beginning till now. Of course I knew." He was just sitting there as if he was not included in the conversation.

"Well the reason I have not been here is I already had my hands full with my gang. Now that I already came that far, I can't back out anymore even if I wanted to," Raven casually explained. "Not that I wasn't able to visit you or call you, but if I would I'd get too distracted from time to time. I already got myself in some deep shit. I mean like really really deep shit," he shook his head with a frustrated chuckle. "You have no idea." It was silence. "And that moron," he pointed at me. "Together with him and his gang, happen to make everything worse."

"It's not like we knew it was you!" I justified myself.

"But you're lucky it was me," he reminded me which he could have also kept to himself because I was already aware of that.

"What do you mean? What happened?" Jin frowned.

"I don't have the time to explain that, too," Raven said. "As I already said, I have a big problem and I need your help for it."

"So you just left without a word but decided to pathetically crawl back to us as soon as you realized you need our help? What are we your servants??" Ramon cocked an eyebrow. "You don't expect us to really help you."

"C'mon Ramon let him speak," Dad kindly told him to shut up, as if he was aware of what Raven wanted to talk about.

"I would ask someone else if it wasn't that important." He now spoke like he really meant it serious which got me curious. "I," he hesitated. "I have a child."

And that's when my heart stood still. "What?" Jin's fist collided with the couch.

"You're kidding right?" Ace's voice was dripping with worry. "How long?"

"10 months." For almost a year and he's just coming with it now? "His name is Leroy," he smiled, his eyes fixed on the ground.

Everyone was speechless. Just when Ramon asked a question we were all interested in. "What is with his mother?"

"She is my girlfriend. For seven years now. And at the same time co-leader, ranked directly after me. Her name's Mira John," he said.

And strangely, the name was too familiar. "The diary," Zaron whispered. "It was her's."

"Right now Leroy is with her like most of the time. But we both now that in our gang, there is no place for a child. It's way too dangerous and neither does Mira nor I have the time to properly take care of him."

"No way," Ace gasped, already assuming where his words were leading to.

"For now, we will still keep him with us. But we'd like to put him in your care before he turns six. So he'd have the chance to go to a proper school and live a normal life."

"Can I entrust him to you?" No one dared to speak up. Not even me despite having too many things running through my mind. Why was the delivery taking so long, I'm hungry. "Please, I swear it's the last time I'll ever ask for anything."

"Shit, this is hard," Jin fidgetted with his fingers.

"Yeah, you can't expect a sudden answer after telling us all at once," Ace sighed.

"Right," Ramon nodded. Raven's eyes more and more lost the sight of hope of someone granting his wish.

"I can't even deal with my own life, how am I suppose to take care of someone," Myles bit his lips. They all wanted to leave him hanging. My head was stuffed with considering every possibility while even Dad interfered.

"C'mon guys. You could help each other out," he tried to convince us.

"I'm sorry to break that to you, but you're the last one to talk. You don't even know what proper parenting is!" Ace outed. Although, I could see Dad clearly hurting on his words, he didn't responded since he knew he was right.

"Shit, what am I going to do?" Raven was at the edge of despair. No one was ready to adopt the child and he probably doesn't have anyone he trusted as much as us with this.

"I'll do it." My voice was hardly loud enough.

"Quentin!" Zaron widened his eyes just as Raven.

"What?" He couldn't believe it. Though his voice left a sound of relief.

"I said I'll do it." This time I was more certain than before. "I can't let that brat hopp around all of you idiots who are not even ready to back their own brother. And I doubt that Leroy will be able to live a normal life with anyone of you. Besides, kids love me," I grinned.

"Yeah cause you are a kid," Ramon pointed out.

"Shut up, it's not like I'll face it alone," I smiled at Zaron who was ready to strangle me. "Right?" I winked at him.

"I will kill you," he decided. "I'm so gonna kill you," he groaned. And since he didn't say anything against it, I took it as a yes.

Then the bell rung, interrupting the moment when Jin got up to open the door.

Meanwhile, Zaron was emanating a menacing aura. "Get up, we're talking," he grabbed my hand and forced me to the kitchen. Why is it always the kitchen? "What the hell are you thinking?!"

"What?" I crossed my arms. "Before you continue, whatever you'll say, I already made up my mind."

"How can you be so light headed? We are talking about a child. You are barely nineteen!" He tried to pound some sense it to me.

"Yeah I know, but it's not like I have to take care of him now."

"This is ridiculous. You're being unreasonable," he mumbled and rested his head on my shoulder. "What am I saying, you're always being unreasonable."

"I'm telling you it'll work out," I gently tugged on his ear.

"It's hard to believe it when it comes out of your mouth," he chuckled.

"Zaron, just imagine. You, me and Leroy. It will be so much fun." I giggled. Though he frowned.

"Do you even know the real definition of fun?" I blinked at him for a few seconds.

"Zaron?"

"Hm?"

"You suck." I stuck my tongue out at him.

And suddenly a laugh appeared, just before the kitchen door opened. "Raven?" I frowned. "Were you eavesdropping?"

"I didn't plan to, but I couldn't help it," he shrugged with an amused smile. "So I already figured you guys are a thing, huh?"

"You could say so," I nodded.

"Cute. I guess we haven't properly introduced ourselve, have we?" He reached out his hand and waited for Zaron to accept and shake it. "I'm Raven, nice to meet you."

"Zaron," he smiled.

"Anyway," he turned to me. "I really really wanted to thank you. You have no idea how much this means to me. And of course you, too." The last part was meant for Zaron.

"Let's just say we're even now, okay?" I smiled.

"You've grown so much, huh?" He patted my shoulder before wanting to return to the others.

"And Raven?" He stopped just before he was about to leave. "It's nice to finally see you again," I pointed out.

He smiled. "Yeah."

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