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"https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/large/3576/3576339_DennatonEnterprises_the_twins_and_danny.jpg", "submission_right_thumbnail_url_medium": "https://nl1.ib.metapix.net/thumbnails/medium/3576/3576339_DennatonEnterprises_the_twins_and_danny.jpg", "submission_right_thumb_huge_x": "300", "submission_right_thumb_huge_y": "202", "submission_right_thumb_large_x": "200", "submission_right_thumb_large_y": "135", "submission_right_thumb_medium_x": "120", "submission_right_thumb_medium_y": "81" } ], "description": "I've been writing a lot and been hoarding my stories. It's like there's apprehension to post anything unless it was good enough. But at this point I figured I should upload this one, and should start doing so at my own slow pace. And because it was originally a docx file, converted to doc and uploaded, there are abnormalities with the punctuation. Specifically \" which is really annoying. The file itself should be normal but if you were to read it on IB then you'll get that. Anyway, this is another really long story bit. Just Rita showing Felix and Eliza around the city/town as a bit of fun. \n\nI've found writing about Felix, Eliza, Tobias, Elijah and their friend (who comes up in the next story) as DEEPLY cathartic. As with them I get to express a lot of emotions, my hopes and dreams and feel like I'm doing something good. I get to also experience a bit of my childhood as I grew up so fast physically that I missed out on some of the things I now wished I could have experienced. Most of all, it's fun to build characters with history, personalities and the choices they make. In comparison to writing about them over the turians is that, the turians are more explicit in the fact they have sex scenes and are still in the pedophilic environment. Writing sex scenes have gotten a tad boring since I've been on chemical chastity meds.It's like having access to a bunch of chocolate or cigarettes before you, but you are on meds that pacify those urges. You could do it, but it's so undesirable and unrewarding. The point being, I can write so much about Felix and Eliza, I can write so much about Nathan, Rita and their boys. I can explore this new world that's vast in comparison to an apartment on a space station. \n\nAnyway, I hope you guys like the story. \n\n[s]PS: I actually have been writing a turian story, I have been trying to get back into it shhhh don't tell[/s]", "description_bbcode_parsed": "I've been writing a lot and been hoarding my stories. It's like there's apprehension to post anything unless it was good enough. But at this point I figured I should upload this one, and should start doing so at my own slow pace. And because it was originally a docx file, converted to doc and uploaded, there are abnormalities with the punctuation. Specifically " which is really annoying. The file itself should be normal but if you were to read it on IB then you'll get that. Anyway, this is another really long story bit. Just Rita showing Felix and Eliza around the city/town as a bit of fun.

I've found writing about Felix, Eliza, Tobias, Elijah and their friend (who comes up in the next story) as DEEPLY cathartic. As with them I get to express a lot of emotions, my hopes and dreams and feel like I'm doing something good. I get to also experience a bit of my childhood as I grew up so fast physically that I missed out on some of the things I now wished I could have experienced. Most of all, it's fun to build characters with history, personalities and the choices they make. In comparison to writing about them over the turians is that, the turians are more explicit in the fact they have sex scenes and are still in the pedophilic environment. Writing sex scenes have gotten a tad boring since I've been on chemical chastity meds.It's like having access to a bunch of chocolate or cigarettes before you, but you are on meds that pacify those urges. You could do it, but it's so undesirable and unrewarding. The point being, I can write so much about Felix and Eliza, I can write so much about Nathan, Rita and their boys. I can explore this new world that's vast in comparison to an apartment on a space station.

Anyway, I hope you guys like the story.

PS: I actually have been writing a turian story, I have been trying to get back into it shhhh don't tell", "writing": "Nathan sat on the edge of his bed and opened the folder the adoption agency gave him. He remembers have a very quick look when he peeked into it without Rita observing. A dire grim feeling urged him to make sure before he opens his mouth about ANYTHING. This time Rita sat next to him as he opened it up, who knew he peeked at it but didn't see any harm in him doing so. But this time they had to read through all the files together. One of the documents was detailing where Felix came from, what family he was tied to by birth. His father was Angus Foster and his mother was Deidre Clark, whom neither wanted the other's surname, or Felix by the fact it seems. The document detailed how Deidre reported of domestic abuse and child protection came and retrieved Felix. Angus was then jailed for 4 years of repetitive physical and verbal abuse to Deidre and Felix, with Deidre gave up Felix to adoption due to parental pressure to start a new life. There were three pictures, one of each of them. Angus looked like a drunk and violent offender while Deidre had this look of distain and disconnect, she also looked far younger than Angus. The picture, which both Nathan and Rita assumed was the `best' picture they could get, was of Felix (whose age was 3) who looked absolutely miserable with bruises across his face. \n\n``Fucking hell.'' Rita said rubbing her eyes with a silent and emotional Nathan wrapped an arm around her. He knew that this was only the beginning of this file of evidence, this wasn't even the bit he sneaked a peek at. ``Look how miserable the boy looks. Look at that smug drunken idiot.'' Rita said getting agitated. \n\n``That could have been me if I didn't change.''\n\n``Well, I'm bloody glad you did!''\n\n``So am I.'' Nathan kept looking at Felix's picture, the young innocent eyes looking tarnished in fear. \n\nNathan folded the document back into the file and grabbed another one. A document with the first foster family Felix moved to. A Mr and Mrs Darling in a few states over in America, Robert and Olivia were their names. The document was not so much about Felix being put into their foster care but being taken out of it, as after 3 years child protection services were called in by a neighbour whose suspicion of detrimental and cruel parenting was verified. Robert and Olivia went to court and managed to not get into serious trouble but paid a fine and given a harsh warning. The details of what they did to Felix was as such, they berated him, made him eat petfood, they did not care for him when he got a scratch and always telling him ``Do it yourself, you got yourself into this mess you take care of it yourself.'' They didn't care about his health and their methods of discipline was depriving Felix of everything until he said sorry. Then some details were made even more clear to Nathan and Rita, Mr and Mrs Darling had 2 other kids. Details of the parents telling Felix that he ``isn't their little treasures'' and ``Is only here because they felt sorry for him.'' This made Nathan very mad. Then a small but important detail was uncovered, that Felix got aggressive with his siblings frequently, fighting so much and violently which got him into more trouble and started the suspicion of the neighbours. There were 2 pictures this time, one showing both Mr and Mrs Darling and the other one of Felix who was grubby and moody looking. There was some crayon on the bottom of the document that read ``Fucking Darling'' very crudely but at the very least readable.\n\n``Fucking Mr and Mrs Darling? Hah! They were anything but `darling'. Oohh the things I would yell at them for.'' Rita grumbled.\n\n``Why on earth would they fucking adopt him? If they had no intent to care, I don't understand their logic? I swear I've gone to school with someone much like them, only pretending to care until you are alone with them.'' Nathan sounding worn out and frustrated. \n\n``Let's find one of Eliza, I want to know where she came from.'' Rita said, grabbing the folder after Nathan put the document back in. \n\nAfter searching for a short while she had found the origin of Eliza. A document that explained of an unknown child being found at a gas station, no parents or any footage of her arriving with someone else. She was naked, muddy, dirty and in a state of paralytic stillness when she was found. Huddled up between a few gas containers with her tail coiled up between her legs and clinging to a teddy bear she was found by a cps worker who was off duty. She remained to not move wordless as the cps worker tried to help them. Not answering questions of `who she is, where did you come from, who are your parents?'. They eventually took her to safety. The document showed a picture of a towelled Eliza with a lifeless stare sitting on a chair without her teddy. Nathan and Rita felt only sadness for the girl.\n\n``They didn't even give back her teddy for the photo.''\n\n``Besides the point, Nathan. That girl must have run far away from someone awful.''\n\n``That is unquestionable.'' Nathan sighed resting his head against his wife's. The document continued with the cps worker making a statement.\n\n- ``Whoever this child is, wherever they've come from, they are frightened and alone. She flinched at every movement I made to her; it took a long time to convince her that I'm a good person trying to help her. That I was going to take her to safety. When I got her to the station the first thing I did was to get her washed and clean; she was afraid of the water at first. She did show signs of liking to be clean, but in her broken words she had said to me `this is never happened before'. We fed her as much good food as we possible had available, and she barely ate; especially when she was without her teddy. She didn't say a word and gave a thousand-yard stare. We had to take her bear away because it was dirty and desperately needed repairs. When it was returned, she came back to life but even after she still never answered the questions I asked. \n\nI'm writing this to state that I have strong suspicions of her being heavily neglected and potentially of having been abused, but I don't have any proof that. I just know that she flinched at every man at the station and cried a lot.'' -\n\nRita read out the statement as Nathan listened, her voice breaking while Nathan cried silently. \n\n``You alright, hun?'' Rita asked as she put the document back in the folder.\n\n``Of course not. I'm broken just reading all this.''\n\n``We can stop and get back to this later if you need to.''\n\n``I wouldn't be able to stomach going back to this, I want to get this over and done. Would you mind finding another document?'' Nathan cleared his throat and his mouth quivered as he tried to get under control. Rita sighed and grabbed the next document she found.\n\nThe document was yet another foster care home for Felix, and this one was more dreadful than the last. It detailed of the foster care parents being called Mr and Mrs Wood that trhe document already stated with certainty that `Felix was removed at post haste when Mr and Mrs Wood was caught with child pornography material involving Felix and their own kids (blank) and (blank). Felix was in their care for just under 3 years. Authorities tracked Mr and Mrs Wood via suspicious contacts they were involved with as well as being monitored online selling Image packs and video packs of their kids for $150 in total for other paedophiles to buy.' When Rita read that out, she was breathless and upset; growling she stomped her foot down on the ground.\n\n``Bastards!'' She growled, Nathan rubbing her shoulders to calm her down. She looked at Rita and with a sigh and a nod she continued to read out the details. Felix when taken away from Mr and Mrs Wood should great disdain and hatred to the cps who `keep putting me in crappier homes, what the fuck is wrong with you fucks'? The document states that Mr and Mrs Woods are imprisoned for an unknown amount of time with their own kids being taken in by other family members while Felix was returned back to the adoption clinic at his own request. The only picture was of Felix who was looking far messed up and aggressive looking than normal. The document was concluded with one more document that was paperclipped together. \n\n``That was the one that I had a peek at.'' Nathan admitted, he grabbed this one and decided he was the one to read out this one; something Rita appreciated.\n\nThe document read out as follows, \n\n- ``Felix and Eliza were put out to adoption by an otter named Noah and an elephant named Hanna who decided that it was time to send off the two to receive two more children to look after. Upon retrieving Felix (11) and Eliza (7) both were broken kids with signs of sexual abuse in the past. Upon evaluating the files that we have, Felix has been through some rough times, but he has not been improved whatsoever under Noah's care. The very fact that Noah and Hanna like to recycle kids does not sit well with me when clearly these kids aren't any better but seemingly worse. Both Felix and Eliza show great contempt for Noah and Hanna with Felix resenting Noah more while Eliza showing great fear and discomfort at the very mention of Hanna or any elephant. We tried separating the two from each other but it was met with great aggression and violence from Felix who vocally yelled `I won't let you take her!'. We were advised that the union between the two kids is to be kept. This was done to avoid further conflict and to keep the peace and integrity of our clinic. Our suspicion grows more and more about Noah but we can't get any proof with neither of the kids willing to talk about their experience. Noah has been nothing but friendly, cooperative and a great client of our clinic so there's nothing we can really do. There were 2 other kids that were put out to adoption from Noah's care aside from Felix and Eliza, but they've already been put into other homes. We wait for the perfect home for Felix and Eliza, if they are to be taken with each other. Lord knows we will be in so much shit if only one gets taken.'' - \n\nAt the bottom of the long statement was a picture of Eliza and Felix who sat next to each other on a small lounge firmly holding hands with dead looks on their faces. The document continued on about Noah and Hanna as being excellent foster carers, amazing people and blah blah blah that went on like a propaganda speech by another cps worker. Something that both Nathan and Rita growled in disgust.\n\n``There's someone working with them, there has to be! Or are they bloody stupid?'' Rita scoffed. \n\n``It sure sounds like it. I'll admit I only read the first few lines, and I'm just disgusted.'' Nathan said as he put the document back in the folder. At that point it was then they discovered that was it, that was all in the folder. A bleak, depressing and horrible history of the two foster kids. ``Felix Foster. That is perhaps one of the meanest underlying surnames I've ever heard, more so than having an awful time at the `Darling' residence.''\n\n``Surely it has to be pure coincidence, even if it's downright rude and cruel.'' Rita said getting up and moving to her side of the bed. Nathan put the folder in one of the bedside draws and laid down in the bed covering, rubbing his eyes in a state of overwhelmed anger and heartache empathy. Rita did the very same thing and sniffed as she sunk into the bed more and more. \n\n``My heart, it's just so broken for them.''\n\n``Those poor kids.'' Nathan and Rita said, Nathan looked at the bedside clock and sighed when he realized the time.\n\n``Well, I'm going to be working off steam tomorrow.'' Nathan sighed taking off his glasses, putting them on the bedside table, sunk into the bed more and turning to face Rita. Rita rolled over and met Nathan face to face, they held hands under the sheets as a show of giving each other strength and to show love. They gave their goodnight wishes and turned off the lights to sleep.\n\nWhen it came to morning it was Rita's turn to sleep in as Nathan woke up, he yawned, rubbed his eyes and put his glasses on. He left the room and headed down to wake up the twins still in his pajamas, as he had to wake them up, dress them and get their breakfast ready. He opened their door and found them as they should be, one embracing the other as they slept. Each day it would be different between the twins as every other day it would be reverse. Today it was Tobias who embraced Elijah from behind as they slept, tomorrow it was guaranteed for Elijah to do it instead. He never quite understood how the twins always end up in this position, surely, they have to move around and not get bed sores? But it wasn't important, Nathan and Rita loved seeing the twins follow their cute pattern. \n\n``Elijah, Tobias, it's time to wake up you two.'' Nathan said in a hushed tone with a jingle, he walked over to the bed and knelt down before Elijah. Nathan repeated himself and rubbed Elijah's hair, getting the reaction he was hoping. Elijah opened his eyes and yawned, squirming a little as he slowly woke up. Elijah's movement awoke Tobias as well who moaned softly as he buried his face closer into Elijah's back shoulder. Nathan smiled more as it was undeniably adorable and sweet, waking them up felt like the worst thing he has to do. But the boys need their routine, they have to wake up. ``Come on Tobias, wake up. You two need to get dressed and get some tucker in your bellies.'' Nathan moved over and kissed Elijah on the forehead and then stretched over to Tobias, Tobias moaned once more as he moved his head away from Elijah and slowly opened his eyes. Nathan kissed Tobias on the forehead and returned to a comfortable kneeling down position. Nathan rubbed Tobias's head as he smiled to his son.\n\n``Morning.''\n\n``Mmmmmorrrrning.'' Tobias and Elijah said after another. Tobias blinked a lot as he slowly let go of Elijah and sat up moving the sheets with him. Elijah helped his brother and pushed the sheets off and slowly stuck his legs out of bed. Elijah's wore his light blue pajamas sat on the edge of the bed with his legs meeting with the ground. Tobias moved to his side and copied what his brother had done, he too also wore the same pajamas. Nathan stood up and went to their wardrobe and got their overalls and their shirts.\n\n``Which shirt do you two want today?'' Nathan asked as he looked through the wardrobe.\n\n``The snake one.'' Tobias replied with Elijah mhm'd along. Nathan grabbed the two green shirts with a purple snake on the chest. Nathan had all their clothes and placed them on the end of the bed. The twins stood up and moved to Nathan. ``So, what did you two dream about?'' Nathan asked as she started to strip them to change into their clothes.\n\n``I dreamt of living in a house with Elijah, Eliza and Felix.'' Tobias said plainly,\n\n``I dreamt of a super hero who was Felix in disguise!'' Elijah added. ``We lived together?'' Elijah said amazed looking at Tobias as Nathan removed Elijah's pajamas.\n\n``Yeah. We shared a bed at times, but we slept together the most.''\n\n``That's cool! I want to sleep in a bed all together!'' Elijah said excited like as Nathan removed Tobias's pajamas.\n\n``Ohh really now? That sounds like you guys had fun. What did you 4 get up to in that house?''\n\n``I don't recall, I think we had jobs or something.'' Tobias said as Nathan helped him put on his overalls.\n\n``Fun.'' Nathan said in a humorous tone causing Elijah to laugh. ``So, you dreamt of Felix as a superhero?'' Nathan said as he looked at Elijah.\n\n``Yeah! Saved me and Tobias from a baddie.'' Nathan smiled warmly as he helped put Elijah's overalls on. \n\n``You two really love your Felix, don't you? What about Eliza?''\n\n``I dreamed of her; I like her.'' Tobias added with Elijah now looking sad.\n\n``I didn't dream of her.'' \n\n``Hey now it's ok. I know you love your new sister too.'' Nathan said as he paused as he could sense that Elijah was going to cry. Elijah looked down as his tail drooped between his legs, Nathan rested his hands on Elijah's shoulders and comfortingly rubbed them. ``I get a feeling that both Felix and Eliza love you two very much and are very happy to be here. And I'm sure they know you two love them both.'' Nathan sincere and affirming words put the smile back on Elijah who started to wag his tail. ``Now let's get your shirts on and have breakfast.'' With that little problem solved, Nathan helped the boys put their matching t-shirts on. When it was done Nathan stood up stretching his back and walked to the kitchen with the twins following holding hands.\n\nNathan grabbed their bowls, cutlery, the weet-bix the boys love, a milk carton and then a small container of sugar. He placed them all on the table making sure nothing was going to fall off or make a mess. He made their breakfast and put the bowls in front of the twins with a sigh of relief. \n\n``Alright tuck in you two. I'll be back in a little bit, and try to eat cleanly.'' With that said Nathan left his boys to eat with and together at the table. Nathan left and headed back to the bedroom to get changed. Rita sat up in bed with the TV on and laid back as she woke up.\n\n``Morning hun.'' She said with a sleepy smile.\n\n``Gidday love. Twins are dressed, got their breaky. They also told me they dreamt of Felix and Eliza.''\n\n``Oh really?'' Rita said amazed.\n\n``Yes really. Tobias dreamt of them living together in a house, sharing a bed. Elijah dreamt of Felix as a super hero saving him.''\n\n``Aw that's sweet.'' Rita smiled widely.\n\n``Elijah is a bit sad he didn't dream of Eliza though, but I reassured him that she knows he likes her a lot. Anyway, I need a shower and get changed.''\n\n``Alright hun.'' Nathan walked over to Rita and kissed her on the lips before grabbing some clothes and stepping into the ensuite to have a shower. When Nathan was done showering, he dressed himself in smart and professional clothing before heading back to the twins in the dining room.\n\n``How are you two doing?'' Nathan asked as he put on his tie, something he actually hated. The twins looked up with some food in their mouths but didn't say a word, Nathan nodded to them. ``Well, when you two are done we will be get going to kindergarten. Are you two excited for kindergarten?'' The twins nodded back with Elijah looking excited with Tobias unreadable in his expression. Nathan finished putting his tie on, checked his watch and felt like he had to check on the other two to see if everything is alright. Eliza didn't come to Nathan and Rita last night, which was rather fortunate with them reading over their files. But Nathan wanted to know if she slept well or had a nightmare, in case he needs to clean her sheets and mattress again. Nathan walked down the corridor and as he got close to their rooms, he softened his footsteps so he wouldn't wake them up with thumping shoes. Eliza's door was opened as Nathan got to it, as he peered in, he noticed she wasn't there and the sheets looked wet from where he was standing. Nathan sighed in sympathy and immediately hoped she was in Felix's room. He opened the door slightly and to his relief Eliza was with Felix in his bed, her wet clothes on the floor rather in the bed. Nathan closed the door and turned his attention to sorting out Eliza's bed and her sheets, they'd have to be put in the wash again and he would have to spray the bed to remove any odours. Nathan stripped her bed and took it all to the washing machine, loaded it up and started it. He sprayed the bed with lavender spray and got a towel to pat the bed to make sure it was drier. Once that was all done, he washed his hands and went to sit at the dining room table for breakfast. Nathan ate his breakfast as he watched his twins mumble and laugh as they talked. They were talking in their `special language', something no one could understand. As much as Nathan wanted to understand and join in, he knew that would just spoil it. Neither of the twins wanted to share, perhaps because they didn't know how to. \n\nFelix and Eliza woke up with tons of yawning and stretching in Felix's room. Throwing the hot blankets off of them. When their bodies collided with each other the shook, not quite expecting the sudden sensation. \n\n``Sorry.'' Felix said with a tired look. Eliza looked at him with a shuddered smile and hopped off of the bed. Felix slid his legs off the bed and slowly stood up as he felt hollow inside. \n\n``It's ookie.'' Eliza replied and surveyed Felix's room. They both could feel their stomachs aching for food. Felix opened his door, looked at Eliza and gestured his head as if to say `come on, follow me'. Both groggily left his room and walked down the corridor to where they could hear voices chatting; probably at the dining table they both figured. As they turned the corner they saw Nathan sitting at the table eating breakfast dreamingly staring at the twins with an adored smile to boot. Nathan saw them in the corner of his eye and turned at them.\n\n``Good morning you too.'' Nathan said with a sudden pause at the end. ``Eliza, you had another bad dream?''\n\n``Yeah...'' Eliza replied looking embarrassed.\n\n``It's fine darling. It's just, we need to get you some underwear and pants on.'' Nathan said doing his best to soften the uncomfortable blow. Eliza and Felix looked down and saw that Eliza was wearing nothing, of course she was wearing nothing she took it off to avoid getting Felix's bed wet. Eliza looked embarrassed with Felix's heart sinking. ``Now don't worry Eliza, it's ok. Let's go to the laundry room to get you some dry clothes.'' Nathan put his spoon down into his bowl and stood up, he walked down the corridor without a hesitation with Eliza and Felix following closely. Felix didn't have to tag along, but he was still highly anxious to leave Eliza alone with any adult. As they got to the laundry Nathan stuck his hands into a washing basket, pulling out underwear and her first night's pajama pants for Eliza. Eliza grabbed them and left to her room to put them on. Nathan headed back to his breakfast without comment with Felix standing in the hallway waiting for Eliza to come back. When Eliza left her room with her pants on Felix looked at her with a slight puzzled look.\n\n``I don't see why we didn't just get proper dressed.'' Felix shrugged; Eliza copied but smiled in appreciation. \n\n``But pig-jamas are comfy though.'' Eliza said with a toothy grin. ``I'm hungree.'' Eliza added as she walked up to Felix opening her hand at him to hold. He grabbed it and together they headed back to the dining room. Nathan stood up at the table as the two turned t corner, he was fixing his tie and looking at his watch expectantly.\n\n``Hey you two, I'm sorry I would get you your breakfast but me and the twins have to go right now.'' Nathan said in a hurried tone, he walked around to the twins and looked down on them. ``Come on Elijah and Tobias, we don't want to be late.''\n\n``Late is bad.'' Tobias said plainly as he looked up. Nathan with care and grace picked up both the boys and held them up for them to grab each of his shoulders for balance. Nathan walked past Felix and Eliza as he headed to the front door.\n\n``Hey hun? Could you do their breakfast?'' Nathan said as he got to the front door looking into his bedroom.\n\n``Of course! I'm bloody starving too you know.'' Rita called out with a laugh, Felix and Eliza stood watching Nathan and the twins at the door. Rita came out of the room and kissed Nathan on the lips and then kissed each of the twins on the forehead. ``Goodbye you three, have a good time at kindi.'' With that said she opened the front door to let Nathan and the twins leave to the car. Rita closed the door after waving and then walked down to the kitchen with Felix and Eliza watching. ``Hello you two.'' Rita said in a jolly tone.\n\n``Hello!'' Eliza said as she walked fast up to Rita, grabbing and hugging tightly into her.\n\n``Now I'm hungry, you two are hungry, so I'm going to cook some delicious breakfast for all of it.'' Rita looked down at Eliza and smiled sweetly. ``So, I got a hankering for some bacon and eggs. Does that sound good to you two?'' Felix in particular sounded interested in the idea with a subtle `mmm...'. Eliza still clinged to Rita and didn't respond at all. ``Well at least Felix is excited for some good tucker.'' Rita joked as she rubbed Eliza's head. ``What about you?''\n\n``Yes.'' Eliza replied but refused to let go.\n\n``That's great, now I'll need to get to cooking. Can you let go of me, Eliza?'' Rita asked carefully. Eliza rubbed her face into Rita as a sign of `no'. ``Come on now I don't want you to get hurt while I cook you breakie.'' Rita looked at Felix with `help' on her face, getting Felix to walk up and put his hand on her shoulder.\n\n``Come on, Eliza. I'm fucking starving.'' Felix whined at her, getting her to let go and nodding in response. Felix and Eliza sat at the table as Rita went into the kitchen and started cooking.\n\n``Now how many eggs do you two want?''\n\n``One.'' Eliza and Felix said after another. As Rita cooked the delicious smell waft through the room getting both kids excited for their breakfast. While cooking, Rita got plates and cutlry to put place at the table for her and the kids. When it was ready to eat she brought the food in a tray and placed it on the table and held a egg spatula in a hand. She gave each of them an egg, gave herself a bunch of bacon and waved her hand over the rest.\n\n``Feel free to grab what you want.'' Rita said as she started to eat, Felix and Eliza grabbed how much they wanted each and ate in silence. Rita smiled as she watched the two eat, with Felix getting twitchy with his eyes as he noticed her watching.\n\n``Why do you and Nathan just fucking stare at us?'' Felix asked feeling agitated, Rita sighed as she chewed her bacon.\n\n``We don't mean any harm. It's just that we love you two and frankly it makes me happy seeing you two chow down on some good tucker.'' Rita explained casually.\n\n``It makes me feel weird, I don't like it.'' Felix responded with his voice wavering a little.\n\n``I understand, and we're sorry.'' Rita continued to eat but did her best to not look at the other two, causing Eliza to turn at Felix and thump him on the arm.\n\n``Ow, what was that for?'' \n\n``I like being looked at.'' Eliza replied, she then lifted Mary up at her head level. ``-We like them! They are nice-.'' \n\n``Well I don't like being fucking stared at!'' Felix said showing great distress, Eliza frowned at him sternly.\n\n``Eliza, I am glad you love me and Nathan so much. But don't get angry at Felix, some people just don't like being looked at, or focused.'' Rita rationalised to Eliza, getting her to look down as if she was in trouble. ``You aren't in trouble bubba.'' \n\n``I'm sowry.'' Eliza said as if she was forced to.\n\n``It's ok, geeze. I just don't like being looked at.'' Felix said with a bit of bother, but looked at her with an understanding. They finished eating in no time at all, Rita stood up from the table and grabbed all the plates and cutlery to take them to the kitchen. Felix and Eliza sat at the table feeling satisfied in their stomachs.\n\n``Yummy.'' Eliza said as she patted her belly.\n\n``So, is anything going to happen today?'' Felix asked offhandedly, honestly hoping that nothing would happen.\n\n``Actually yeah. I'm gonna be driving you two around the town to get a look at things.'' Rita replied in a jolly tone.\n\n``Oh.'' Felix said rolling his eyes. \n\n``That sounds fun!'' Eliza chimed in, she hopped off her chair and looked at Felix. ``-We would like to run around-!'' \n\n``Oh don't you worry I will be getting you two to look at stuff and to have a run around.''\n\n``Exactly where will we get to do that?'' Felix asked trying to figure out what is going to happen.\n\n``We'll be checking out landmarks of the city, one of the twin's favourite spots is right next to a park. Lots of rusted and broken vehicles that you can climb in.''\n\n``That doesn't really sound like fun to me.''\n\n``The twin's favourite vehicle is a big ol truck.''\n\n``Ok that sounds cool.'' Felix admitted. ``Just where you drive?''\n\n``Well yeah, but I do get a feeling we can open the trailer but no promises.''\n\n``We get to be in a truck!'' Eliza yelled excitedly jumping up and down, she then began to run around the room.\n\n``Go and get changed Eliza! Then go run outside and have fun!'' Rita called out. Eliza ran down the corridor to her room to get dressed asap. She got herself dressed and Eliza then ran to the screen door in the back-living room, opened it and ran outside to play. Felix sighed and felt an aching craving, he needed to smoke. He headed to his room, got himself dressed, grabbed his lighter and a cigarette before heading outside to sit on the stone wall to smoke. ``Thank you, Felix.'' Rita said as he headed to the backyard, he waved at her unenthusiastically as he left the back-living room. He past Eliza who played in the small playset in the backyard, she waved at him as he past. He sat on the wall, lit the cigarette, breathed it in and exhaled in a sigh. Eliza stopped playing to run over to Felix, grabbed on the wall and lifted herself up with great ease as she sat next to him.\n\n``Hey Eliza.'' Felix said as he blew more smoke out.\n\n``I like da view.'' Eliza said with a big grin, Felix huffed in amusement.\n\n``I bet; you are shorter than me afterall. Do you imagine how big this truck is?'' Felix looked at Eliza and smiled.\n\n``I imagine it to be biiiig.'' Eliza said with a look of wonder, ``It will make you small!'' Eliza said in a teasing look and tone.\n\n``No fucking durr.'' Felix laughed and coughed. ``I just hope it isn't one of those pick up trucks, that would be fucking lame.''\n\n``Nooo it still be cool. Especially if it has those... window... thingys between from and back.'' Eliza said stumbling over her words trying to figure out what was best to say.\n\n``It would be cool if there was still some glass in the windows, so we can smash it.''\n\n``Yeah!'' Eliza kicked her feet as she grinned at Felix looking even more excited.\n\n``But like, we don't know when this will be. We might be driving around looking at boring shit until we get to the good stuff.''\n\n``Maaaaybe.'' Eliza said still looking intently at Felix, Felix huffed more of his cigarette and exhaled it slowly; this looked very cool in Eliza's eyes. Even though she tried and hated smoking she always found Felix smoking to be cool, even when it got in her eyes and she'd start coughing. ``Play with me!'' Eliza yelled as she stood up on the wall and jumped down to ground level, rolling as she landed. \n\n``Whoa easy, Eliza.'' Felix said stunned.\n\n``Play with me!'' Eliza yelled as she ran to the playset, Felix shrugged as he looked at his finished cigarette, smooshed it against the stone and hopped off to join her. Felix was a bit too big for the playset, but he looked like he could still join her on the swing set. It thankfully wasn't a cheap plastic design but more wooden so it looked safe enough for him to try. He sat on one of the swings as Eliza sat on the other. \n\n``So how does this exactly work anyway?'' Felix asked, he's never been on a swing but he has seen other kids play on it. \n\n``You do this with your legs!'' Eliza said as she demonstrated how to swing, she slowly picked up momentum and started swinging at a decent pace. Felix tried to copy but he just wasn't getting it, so much so that he was getting grouchy at not being able to manage it. Eliza scrapped her feet on the grass to stop, hopped off and went behind Felix. ``I'll push you!'' \n\n``Wait what?'' Felix said alarmed. Eliza started to push Felix's back as he gripped onto the chains fearing he was going to eat dirt.\n\n``Hold on tight!'' Eliza yelled as she pushed Felix forward, stepping back or aside to avoid being hit as he came back. The more she pushed the further he went, and she continued to push him while yelling `Do what I did!''. Eventually he got the hang of it and Eliza stopped pushing him, he felt the breeze collide with his legs but it was working for him. He finally understood how to swing. Eliza hopped on hers and picked up momentum in no time and joined Felix as they swung.\n\n``This is fun!'' Felix said in amazement. ``I've always wanted to swing!'' The rush of going up, falling back was exhilarating. ``When did you learn how to swing?''\n\n``Daddy taught me, the Elijah and Tobias too!'' Eliza said, she stopped holding onto one side of the chains in order to prepare herself to jump off. She launched herself off the swing, landed and rolled on impact, freaking out Felix in the process. She turned around and ran back at the still moving swing, sat on it once more and continued swinging.\n\n``Fuck me I thought you were going to hurt yourself.'' Felix said out of breath, Eliza laughed and shook her head as she swung.\n\n``Of course not! Let's jump together!'' Eliza said as she prepared to do it again, Felix watched and hesitated.\n\n``How the fuck do I do this without eating shit?'' Felix said with hesitation, Eliza then started to instruct and demonstrate to Felix on what to do. She demonstrated it further by launching herself off the swing again, this time landing on her feet and stumbling forward before a stop. She stood there jumping up and down at Felix while shouting `You can do it!' to encourage Felix. Felix copied what Eliza told him to do and waited for the perfect time to launch himself. Then it happened, he allowed himself to fly off of the swing and landed on his feet stumbling forward. Eliza caught Felix and laughed in pure joy, Felix copying as the adrenaline hit. They continued to play on the swing set for another 15 minutes before Rita comes out of the house to watch.\n\n``I'm glad you two are having fun.'' Rita called out to the two kids. ``I think we'll have to get ready in about 20 minutes, sounds good?'' Felix and Eliza turned to their left to look at Rita as they swung, Felix shrugged with Eliza nodding. ``Alright sounds good.'' Rita headed back inside leaving Felix and Eliza to play. When the time came to stop and get ready, both Felix and Eliza were tired out and hot. They went back inside and sat on the lounges, turning on the fan as the chilled to cool off; they were not use to Australian weather. Rita walked into the room and greeted the two.\n\n``Hello...'' Eliza said looking tired and hot.\n\n``Hmm, maybe I should have gotten you two to wear hats.'' Rita said looking disappointed, ``I'm sorry bubbas, I messed up on that. I'll let you two cool down for a bit and I'll fix you two a cold drink.'' Rita went into the kitchen, opened up a fridge and got a big bottle of water out. She filled two cups up and carried them over to the two hot kids. Both of them grabbed the cups and gulped down the water eagerly.\n\n``Ahhhhh fuck that's good.'' Felix exclaimed coughing, causing Eliza to laugh as a result.\n\n``I bet! And It's also a good thing the twins aren't here to hear you swearing. Haw!'' Rita laughed as she stood over them. ``Do you two want another?''\n\n``Yes please.'' Felix said handing his glass back with great eagerness, Eliza nodded and handed her glass back at Rita.\n\n``Aw that's sweet.''\n\n``What?'' Felix looked confused back,\n\n``Oh, it's just nice to hear `yes please'. Shows you do have a good sense of manners. That means I'll have to give you something extra.'' Rita said sounding impressed, Felix looked back in perplexment trying to figure out if she was being sarcastic or not.\n\n``Pwease can I have some tooooo?'' Eliza said feeling a little rushed for affection and recognition.\n\n``Of course, bubba! I'll get you two some ice cubes in your cups to go with.'' Rita said in her jolly tone and smiled. She took the glasses back to the kitchen, filled them with cold water from the bottle, opened the freeze and got a ice cube tray out. She put a few in the cups each and took the cups back to Felix and Eliza. She gave their drinks back, remembering which one they drunk from, and went back to grab the bottle and came back to them once more. ``If you want any more you two can finish this bottle here.''\n\n``Thank you.'' Felix and Eliza said as they drunk from their cups, the cold water feeling so good right now.\n\n``So like, is this a fresh water bottle?'' Felix asked curiously.\n\n``Nah, it's an old water bottle. We fill it up at the tap and store it in the second fridge, it's filled with bottles of water.''\n\n``Do you wash them?'' Felix asked feeling more curious.\n\n``That would take so much time and frankly defeats the purpose of easy-to-get cold water. Soo the answer is no.''\n\n``You mean you all drink from the bottles, fill them up and put them back in the fridge?''\n\n``Yeah.'' Felix didn't reply at first for he didn't know if he was either disgusted or unaffected. He shrugged at first and then looked at Rita more intently.\n\n``Isn't that like, unhealthy?''\n\n``Unhygienic you mean, I mean yes when one of us is sick. But that is the only time we wash the bottles. Otherwise, us sharing germs has no consequences.''\n\n``No wonder the twins like to suck each other's thumbs.'' Felix said offhandedly, Rita cacked up and leaned forward as she let it all out.\n\n``I never pieced THAT together! You're a bright boy.'' Rita laughed causing Eliza to laugh too.\n\n``Wait, you two didn't?'' Felix said looking amused.\n\n``No not at all!'' Rita laughed some more before standing up to go back to the kitchen. ``Even if that was true, I don't doubt the twins would have done it anyway, they always love being close to each other.''\n\n``They're funny and weird but I like them.'' Eliza replied back.\n\n``And they love you two a lot! Which is great to see the twins willing to connect with anyone but themselves.'' As Rita said that it was clearly obvious to Felix that she was ecstatic about it. ``They even dreamt of you two! My god that's amazing.'' She added.\n\n``Dreamt of us?'' Felix asked feeling a little worried.\n\n``Yeah! Nathan told me. Elijah dreamt of you as a super hero, saving him from danger. Probably because of how you two saved them from those little brats yesterday.'' Rita proudly said, ``And Elijah was very sorry he didn't dream of you as a super hero, Eliza. But he emphasized that he loves you two a bunch.'' Eliza smiled widely,\n\n``I love them too!'' Eliza chimed in.\n\n``What caught me by surprise is that Tobias dreamt of Elijah and the both of you living together in a house.''\n\n``Huh.''\n\n``And went into detail that all you four would sleep in the same bed.''\n\n``That's kinda weird but... kinda cool?'' Felix said with uncertainty.\n\n``Tobias is a speaker but he generally never says much to show or demonstrate his feelings. So to hear that he dreamt of all you four sleeping together, it got me smiling. It is weird to hear but that's Tobias.'' Rita sighed as she leaned against the kitchen counter. ``Now how was the water? Do you two need anymore?''\n\n``I'm fine, thanks.'' Felix said as he slowly stood up, \n\n``I'm goood.''\n\n``That's great. Now do you two need help with putting your socks and shoes on?''\n\n``I think I can manage it.'' Felix said, he looked down feeling a sense of insecurity and shame; he hoped he could manage it. He walked off with Eliza following behind to go to their rooms, Felix and Eliza got their socks and met in Eliza's room to put their stuff on. It took Felix 4 tries before he could get his shoelaces right. Eliza struggled with hers but she got it on the third try. They kicked their feet off of Eliza's bed, from where they were putting their socks and shoes on, and headed back to the back-living room.\n\n``We're weady!'' Eliza called out. \n\n``That's good, now I'm bringing a small cooler bag with some bottles of water just in case. Now make sure you've gone to the toilet, you two! We don't know when we'll find a toilet.'' Rita called out of her room, then travelled through the kitchen. As she finished speaking, she pointed at them and in the direction of the toilet. Felix and Eliza shrugged and complied. When everyone had been to the toilet, got their socks and shoes on and completely ready, Rita got both of the kids with her at the front door to leave. She got a couple of hats out and handed them to the two kids, they were the same hats that they wore yesterday.\n\n``Nathan gave me this hat yesterday.'' Felix stated as he put it on.\n\n``Well, it might as well be yours since he no longer wears it. Besides it looks great on you, bub.'' Rita's jolly and easy-going attitude was contagious, Felix nodded and then shrugged.\n\n``I mean, sure? It's a good hat.'' Felix wasn't sure how he felt right now, if that was said by any other adult, excluding Nathan maybe, he would feel gross and uncomfortable. But it actually felt like a compliment. Eliza put on her cap and stood straight as if she was in the army, arm out in front of her and across her forehead.\n\n``And that cap suits you real good as well. Maybe we can get you a similar hat as what Felix has but-,''\n\n``-No no no, she likes this hat-.'' Mary said, she dangled in Eliza's other hand but was raised up to her chest when she began to speak.\n\n``Sounds fine then.'' Rita said as she straightened her shirt. ``Well, it's time to go.'' Rita and the kids left the house with Rita locking it behind them as they went to the garage. The second car was different from the many seated one that they arrived in. It was a Toyota landcruiser, 4WD big car with a solid bulbar; it was old looking but despite the age it was solid. Rita unlocked the car and got in the driver's seat, ``You two can hop in the front, plenty of space for both of you.'' Rita called out. Felix opened the front passenger door and the seat was wide with 2 separate belt buckles. \n\n``Wow the seat is huge!'' Eliza said barely containing her shock and only barely not slurring.\n\n''Yep! Now come on let's get going.'' Rita said as she turned the car on. Felix started to climb in first when Rita turned at them and waved her hand at them to say `no'. ``No no Eliza is the smallest and has to go in first. That way you won't be squashed against the gear stick, Felix.'' Felix stepped back and let Eliza go in first before going in, they both sat on the seat and put their buckles on; Eliza's belt being around her hips rather than across her body. It wasn't as spacious as they previous thought, but they both fitted on the seat together well enough. Rita backed the car out of the garage and carefully reversed down the steep driveway, Felix and Eliza looked out of the car and watched with nervous anticipation. Once on the road Rita opened her window, drove around a roundabout and headed down a long road.\n\n``This is the way we came.'' Felix said as he winded his window down and he looked out to his left. Seeing all the dry and dusty bushland passing as they drove. \n\n``Yep. Don't worry I ain't taking you two back, this is just the road that takes us into town.'' \n\n``I know, you didn't have to say that.''\n\n``Just making sure, bub.'' \n\n``Lots of buuushes and... thingys out there.'' Eliza said as she looked past and across Felix to look outside.\n\n``No kidding, makes me wonder why anyone would live out here.'' \n\n``Well, all this land use to belong to the aborigines. All the places we have cities are what everyone thought was best to live at. So at some point all of this was considered liveable. But then again, the aborigines were smart to keep moving.''\n\n``What counts as an aboriginal anyway?'' Felix asked offhandedly.\n\n``Well, all the people that were here before outsiders came in. You got your various snake families, the koala folk, the sugar-glider folk, echidna folk, the kangaroo and wallaby folk, the wombats, the dingos, there's so many of them to say without running out of breath.''\n\n``Wait. Does that mean I'm an aboriginal?'' Felix asked with a puzzled look.\n\n``You are a roo, so yes. Doesn't matter if you were raised in another country. By blood you are from here.'' Rita explained. It didn't really sink in with Felix at first, but as he thought about it more he got more confused and even angry.\n\n``I'm not an aboriginal. I was raised in America. Just because I'm a roo doesn't mean I'm automatically a fucking aboriginal.'' Felix said feeling discomfort growing by the second, Eliza looked at him with concern.\n\n``Here's some history that I'll need to explain to you, Felix. About the stolen generation. A generation of aboriginal children taken from their parents, communities and homes, given to other families so they can adapt to how the government wanted them to be. More than likely your parents of their parents who was taken from their homes, then those that owned them took them to a whole different country.'' Rita's words hurt more than they should have. ``It was a horrible act, many of the aboriginal races cry for an apology, compensation and more.'' Rita turned her head and looked at Felix, who's face was all sorts emotional.\n\n``Why are you telling me this?'' Felix sniffed with angry tears. Rita didn't respond at first and then focused on the road.\n\n``Because I believe that if we get you involved with the local roo tribe that you will find yourself, and be apart of a group. Nathan and I believe you would benefit meeting and hanging out with other roos.'' Rita explained as best as she could, Felix looked out of the window to hide his face, wipe his tears away and to feel the brushing wind.\n\n``I don't want to talk about this.'' Felix stated, trying to contain himself.\n\n``Ok, Felix.'' Felix sighed as he felt relieved that she didn't try to continue, it was all a bit too much for him to handle. A short while passed and they finally met the end of the long ass road as Rita turned right to go into town. As they entered the commercial district of the town Felix observed the people of the town doing their own thing. As they pulled at the traffic lights Felix noticed a group of roos, mixed ages and all wearing some kind of aboriginal pride kind of clothing, maybe it was typical clothing they would wear but Felix couldn't tell. He didn't really want to watch them, feeling self-conscious due to the previous conversation, but they looked happy enough to him. Some were walking across the pedestrian crossing, shoeless even. Felix watched in amazement and shuddered.\n\n``How the hell can they walk barefooted? In this fucking climate in this fucking town?''\n\n``It's how they walk. I'll be honest that I too don't grasp how they can do it. If we do it, well we'd get blisters!'' Rita laughed. ``Can't help but envy them.'' The lights turned green and the roos Felix was watching disappeared into the horizon. For the next few hours Rita had taken Felix and Eliza to check out the town key sights and to enjoy some food while they were out. First, they checked out the local museum that Felix and Eliza had a good time looking at. The exhibits telling them about prehistoric life and how the world looked like eons ago. How people adapted and grew into the nations they became. What was most interesting was that how the various races that exist, that many animals have strong resemblance to the vast and growing populaces; especially the animals that are typically house pets. The history of how the majority of the vast amount of races, the cultures within them and the societies built from accept that those creatures just didn't evolve. It's a mystery still waiting to be fully uncovered. People just accept the similarities exist and worldwide the populace don't see it as an issue.\n\n``So weird that, most of the animals in this world looks like us.'' Felix remarked still struggling to really comprehend. \n\n``Sooo there are animal monkeys out there?'' Eliza said as she clutched her bear close. ``I wanna meet dem! I wanna meet dem!'' Eliza jumped as she got excited.\n\n``Not every animal can be a pet, Eliza.'' Explained Rita who was enjoying a cold drink. When they were done at the museum, Rita then took the kids down to walk through the town. She headed down a cozy alley where a fish and chip shop was. There was a couple of chairs and tables in the alley, because of where it was there was a delightful amount of shade and because of the shade it was cool. Felix and Eliza sat at one of the tables with a drink each due to Rita's generous heart. When the food came it was a wrapped paper bag with hot chips inside. \n\n``These chips are fucking tasty.'' Felix exclaimed as he shoved more in his mouth after blowing on them to cool.\n\n``They got chicken salt, special tasty salt.'' Rita said, she held a bunch of chips in her hand, resting on her stomach.\n\n``Chicken salt? Is that made by chickens or made of chickens?'' Felix asked curiously.\n\n``I'll be honest I have no idea hah!'' Rita laughed.\n\n``It's tasty though.'' Eliza added, shoving a bunch in her mouth.\n\n``Easy on there, Eliza.'' Rita said with a big grin. They ate all the chips together and said goodbye to the cool alley fish and chip shop. Rita took the two kids a walk down the street past shops and lots of other people. Most of the population were cats and dogs with various subfamilies to go with. The few that stuck out were the roos, kookaburras, goannas and a black and red snake. Rita made short work with explaining who is who to both kids as neither of them have seen such people before.\n\n``Yeah, those folks are from the kookaburra tribe from the north, but they have spread all across Australia so they're one of the most common indigenous people. They a part of the bird folk tribes predominantly. Now they are red belly black snakes, or red belly blacks, they're from the far east of Australia. They're chill folk so don't be afraid of them, get to know them and they're good mates. Those folks who are sitting down chatting to one another over there, those are goanna folk. They too are pretty widespread in their tribes with others. They're more reserved I find but they're good folk.''\n\n``Are any indigenous race not friendly?'' Felix asked, Eliza nodded along.\n\n``Yeah they all sound nice.''\n\n``Well, there are the cassowary folk of the cassowary tribe. They don't like us outsiders, they respect and at the very least tolerate other aboriginal tribes and races though. But they are angry and hurt people, angry at what outside furs and scalies have done to their home. You go near their home and they'll tell you to go away. They want nothing to do with outsiders.''\n\n``Why are they angry?'' Eliza asked, still not clued in the history.\n\n``When the colonists, prisoners and other outsiders came to Australia a lot of the native tribes were hit with disease, death and lost their homes. Some tribes were mistreated more than others, some where more defensive and fought back to take back their home. The cassowaries saw much loss and they will never forgive until everything that was taken from them is given back.''\n\n``It's hard to give back a life.'' Felix said dead panned.\n\n``True, but they want their land. Their rights. No outsider law and for there to be no trespassing on their sacred sites.'' As Rita explained to the kids a stranger to Rita.\n\n``Gidday Rita, telling of some history?'' The stranger was a sugar glider, she wore loose and cool clothing and had a bag around her left shoulder. She had should length hair that matched her grey fur. She smiled warmly and walked up to Rita for a hug. Rita hugged the stranger and nodded.\n\n``Yep. These two don't know much about Australia history and the natives.''\n\n``Oh yeah? Are they your kids?'' She turned to them.\n\n``Yeah. Nathan and I adopted and brought them to our home.''\n\n``Well, it's good to meet you two then.'' The sugar glider smiled widely and bent down to shake hands; Eliza eagerly shook hands with Felix more hesitantly allowing it. ``My name is Kirra, a pleasure to meet you two.'' \n\n``This is Eliza and this is Felix.'' Rita introduced.\n\n``What part of Aus did you come from fella?'' Kirra asked towards Felix.\n\n``America.'' Felix said dead panned, he looked away feeling awkward and nervous. Kirra didn't look phased and nodded.\n\n``What's it like over there?''\n\n``We didn't have a good time over there.'' Felix said bluntly, Eliza nodded and lifted Mary up to speak.\n\n``-We like this place-!'' Eliza said in Mary's voice. ``-Much more than last-.'' \n\n``Then I'm glad you two are here then.'' Kirra turned to Rita with a nod.\n\n``Hey Kirra?'' Asked Rita. ``Do you have time? You probably know more about indigenous history than I do. Think you can share with the kids?''\n\n``Yeah nah, sorry I'm afraid. I'll be honest I don't know much other than what my mum told me. It'd be best you go speak to an elder. And I gotta go to meet with my mob.'' Kirra said as she straightened her bag. ``Sorry mate.''\n\n``Not a problem, Kirra. I'm glad we got to see you.''\n\n``You have a mob?'' Eliza asked looking astonished, Rita and Kirra laughed.\n\n``Yeah mate, mob being my friends and fam.'' Eliza withdrew when she heard them laugh. \n\n``It's ok, Eliza. I'll tell you a story to why we laughed.'' Rita turned at Kirra and waved, Kirra waved and walked off. ``Now let me tell you two of how I met Kirra.'' Rita continued to walk down the street with Eliza and Felix walking beside her. ``When Nathan and I got here we knew no one. On a completely different story I had the twins shopping with me and they were wearing a red and white checked gingham dress on. Completely different story! Don't you worry I'll tell you two about that one later.'' Eliza started to giggle as the mood lightened up with Rita's natural easy-going attitude. ``Now Kirra saw us in the shops and stopped me for a chat. We had a lovely chat and she said she'll see me around. We exchanged addresses and numbers so we could talk. She called me one day and we chatted for a bit and then said that `her mob would be happy to meet me and Nathan'. I was so nervous that I said yes, because I hoped that she was joking. They came around the next day and it was a bunch of them, all friendly smiling. Midconversation I asked, `so what is your mob called?' They all looked at me so confused and then began laughing. `A mob is how we say friends and family, mate.' One of them said, we all began laughing.'' Rita started laughing once more, getting both Eliza to laugh and Felix to chuckle. ``I was so afraid! But anyway, that's how I met Kirra and that's why we laughed, Eliza. We weren't making fun of you.'' \n\n``That's so funny.'' Eliza said as she grabbed Rita's hand to hold and for comfort.\n\n``Well, I'm glad you feel better, bub. I saw you look uncomfortable so I had to tell you.''\n\n``So, Elijah and Tobias wear dresses?'' Felix asked offhandedly. \n\n``Oh, they did but we shouldn't talk about that in public.'' Rita said with a nervous smile to Felix.\n\nThey spent the next hour searching a clothing shop. Rita explained to the both of them that they did bring their own clothes but it would be nice to get new and fresh clothes for their comfort. Nothing remarkable happened as they tried on clothes leaving with several days' worth of new clothing. They went back to the car, got in and the heat was stinking and hot. Rita quickly turned the car on for the air-con to cool the car down.\n\n``It's so hot.'' Eliza complained,\n\n``Yeah, this is awful.'' Felix added.\n\n``The air-con will make it's magic in a little bit, just be patient.'' Once everyone was buckled in, Rita pulled the car out of it's parking spot and drove off. ``We'll be heading to that place with all the broken-down cars and the big truck.''\n\n``Fuck yeah.'' Felix said, in regards to both the air-con working and the notion of the truck. Once the car cooled down, Rita told Felix to open his window so she could turn the air-con off, for the wind blowing into the car will feel better overall. After a short drive they made it to the location. A large track with several small cars and utes all in a line next to the road. On the other side of them all was plenty of grass and the biggest tree Eliza and Felix have ever seen. It was way bigger than the other and far wider; it looked ancient. Rita pulled up in a car park and put up the covers once more. Felix and Eliza hopped out of the car and ran over the vehicles. All of them had their doors opened or missing entirely. Felix hopped in the driver's seat in one of the cars, Eliza hopped in the passenger to join in. The steering wheel although rusted has a charm that both of them enjoyed, much like the rest of the rusted bunch of junk. The car had a gear stick that was stiff but able to be moved with enough force. They hopped of the car and ran to a ute with a trailer. The front was completely smashed but the seats (and the space to sit) was untouched. This time Eliza said in the driver's seat and kept pressing the no longer functioning gas pedal. Felix sat in the passenger and sighed as he imagined sitting in the moving ute.\n\n``Keep in mind you two to watch your feet, there could be some glass still on the floor.'' Rita said as she walked over.\n\n``Ok.'' Felix called back, he got out of the ute and set his eyes on the big truck. He climbed up and shuffled into the driver's seat, he could feel himself shake as he looked down to see how far up he was. It was cramped in the driver's seat with the old worn-out leather and the rust wasn't as bad as the rest. He relaxed and took a deep breath as he took it all in. So much has happened since he has come to Australia, the anxiety filled plane trip to the crowded airport, to the adoption agency to his new home. Now he's sitting in a big ol broken down truck and he hasn't been abused yet. This surreal feeling is so foreign to him that it makes him want to cry. He felt a hand on his shoulder shaking him awake, Eliza's toothy smile meeting his eyes.\n\n``It's so cool up here!'' Eliza called out, \n\n``I bet!'' Rita called back, she stood at ground level to make sure they got up alright.\n\n``This is a cool fucking truck.'' Felix said, he moved the gear stick about and then poked at some of the remaining glass of the windshield; it cracked off a bit but landed safely away from them. \n\n``It's so cool!'' Eliza replied. She then started talking to Felix as if they were on a journey, a make-believe journey. Felix humoured the idea and had fun pretending that they were on a dusty road. Eventually they climbed out the way they came to get back on solid ground. More time passed as Felix and Eliza checked out all the cars, seeing all the various types, sizes and designs. When it got to 1pm Rita collected them both to get back to their car as it was time to hit the road again. As Rita drove them off the cheer that both Eliza and Felix felt slowly drifted away as they already missed the row of broken-down vehicles. \n\nTheir next destination was the library, Rita explained that it had air-conditioning, a cafe as well as a gaming section for kids to take turns playing. Neither Felix or Eliza was excited about the library but when they got inside, they already thanked the air-con. Felix and Eliza wandered the library they walked past section after section, they've never seen so many books before or even set foot in a library before. They came across the gaming section with two kids playing a game with another 2 watching. Felix and Eliza sat on a free chair together and watched. Felix's mood went dark and irritated as the kids quickly became annoying, insufferable and idiotic. The way they spoke, what they said, what they did in the game made him itching for punching them. What then happened was Felix's temper and bad mannerisms being unleashed. Eliza watched in silent horror as Felix berated the kids, the kids talking smack back to only get more aggressive replies from Felix. Felix crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes as he talked down at the brats playing, saying names and insulting as much about them as possible. Eliza never knew what to do when Felix got like this. One kid kept telling him to fuck off, to only get ignored and mocked by Felix. Adults came over to sort out the situation with all 4 kids at the game area telling them that Felix was being mean. Felix left with a scoff and a glare, remarking that they were all pathetic and should die. Felix stormed off with a fuming head and Eliza followed closely to make sure he was alright. But one of the adults caught up, demanding Felix to leave the library, who in turned refused to listen. As the adult tried to grab Felix's shoulder to drag him back to the entrance, Felix shrugged off the grab violently and backed off against the wall braced. Felix stood up against a wall as the adult berated him in the corner demanding him to apologize to the kids and to leave. Felix was silent as he stared back. He looked past the annoying and ugly adult to see Rita rushing over to take control of the situation.\n\n``What's happening here?'' Rita asked in a huff.\n\n``This little bitch was being rude and aggressive to my kids and 2 others in the gaming area.'' They turned to Rita, ``Are they yours?''\n\n``Yes.'' Rita replied,\n\n``Then I'm embarrassed for you.'' They snarled, ``Get him out of here.'' They stormed off without Rita getting another word. Rita looked at Felix with mild disappointment but was mostly feeling tired.\n\n``Alright you two, we should get going. That would be best, eh?'' Rita said, Felix nodded slowly with Eliza nodding back looking emotionally conflicted. Felix and Eliza followed Rita out of the library back to the car, once they got in Rita began asking questions. ``What happened back there?'' She asked as she turned on the car for the air-con.\n\n``They were so fucking stupid, making comments about bashing this rando character. Kept saying they were raping him.'' Felix growled folding his arms and clenching up, he took his hat off and rested it over his knees. \n\n``And you snapped?'' Rita asked, narrowing her eyes trying to grasp the situation before judging.\n\n``Of course I did, it's not fucking funny! Little fucking pieces of shits.'' Felix growled more,\n\n``They w-w-were also laughing. D-th-they were laughing at it.'' Eliza struggled to added, she wasn't emotional but was agitated in her expression.\n\n``I told them they were fucking stupid pieces of shits, stupid fucking shits, ugly fucking shits. That their parents are dumb fucking cunts to make them.'' Felix kept trying to look away from Rita. ``I wanted to punch them so bad.''\n\n``I'm glad you didn't, Felix.'' Rita said with a relieved sigh. \n\n``I threatened to punch them.'' Felix finally looked Rita back in the eyes.\n\n``I can see why, Felix. But that did not have to happen.''\n\n``They shouldn't have been making fun about rape!'' Felix yelled.\n\n``Felix, I know! But you can't just go around starting fights, you'll get into trouble, you'll get Eliza into trouble, then you'll get Nathan and I into trouble. Your actions will affect us.'' Rita spoke as straight as possible. ``Do you understand?'' Felix's ears folded back slightly and his face shifted slightly to sad and hurt.\n\n``Yes. But they were making rape a big joke.''\n\n``And they're horrible little shits. I know, Felix. But you could have just walked away.''\n\n``And go where?'' Felix complained,\n\n``We don't k-knows that place.'' Eliza stuttered.\n\n``You two could have just walked back to me, told me about them and we would have left pronto. We can always leave when it gets uncomfortable, you two.'' Rita's face relaxed a bit as compassion and sympathy washed over her face. ``Now, let's go somewhere cool to chill to feel better.''\n\n``I want to go home.'' Felix said tiredly, Eliza nodded with him frowning. \n\n``Alright bubs, let's go home then.'' Rita drove out of the parking spot and drove right back home. The air-con was turned off so the windows could go down, Felix rested head on his arms that were resting on the window sill, as he watched the town drive past. Eliza rested her head against Felix and closed her eyes as she listened to the brushing wind. When they got to the driveway, the steep shift was noticeable but they got into the garage safe and sound. Rita got both of them out of the car, locked it up, opened the house and let them both in without issue. ``Home sweet home.'' Rita said feeling relieved. Felix walked straight to his room to lie down, not knowing that Eliza was following closely. As he got to his bed to sit on, he jumped as he got startled.\n\n``What are you doing here?'' He said breathless.\n\n``I want to be with you.'' Eliza said looking tired, Felix sighed. He couldn't tell her to fuck off, he wouldn't tell her to fuck up either. So, he nodded back understandably, took his socks and shoes off and let her do the same. They laid on the bed together as they napped their tiredness and frustration away. Felix got up momentarily to turn the fans on as the room's temperature was rising. Eliza rested her head against Felix as she held Mary underneath her own as they napped. Time passed so fast as they napped, they didn't know where it went. However, it became obvious once Rita started to wake them up.\n\n``Felix, Eliza? I'm going to need you two to come with me to pick the twins up.'' Rita said as the knocked-on Felix's door. A weary and not too thrilled Felix opened his eyes and groaned.\n\n``Must we?'' \n\n``I'm sorry but yes. I can't leave you two alone in the house. Besides, we're going to the beach afterwards.'' Neither Eliza or Felix looked excited as they looked at Rita still blinking. ``Do you two want to go to the beach?'' \n\n``Honestly I don't feel so good.'' Felix said feeling down.\n\n``Alright then, we don't have to go to the beach. But I still need you two to come with me.''\n\n``Fucking no!'' Felix yelled; his heart raced as he put his pillow over his face.\n\n``Alright bub.'' Rita said softly in defeat. Felix removed his pillow and looked up at Rita who knelt down before him and Eliza. ``I'll leave you two home, but you two must stay together and not answer the front door unless it's Nathan or me.''\n\n``Because of other pedophiles? If they fucking get inside I am going to stab them.'' Felix growled.\n\n``And you should! But we need to prevent that from happening, so please do as I say.''\n\n``Alright.''\n\n``Alright, good. I'll be back with the twins in about 30min. Toodles.'' Rita left and closed Felix's door, as she walked down the corridor she sighed. The way Felix reacted just now did not sit well with her, the way he reacted didn't scream `an act for her to piss off'. She didn't want to force him; she didn't want that reaction that makes her feel like she triggered a fight or flight response. She got her keys and locked the house as she took off to pick up the twins. Felix sighed deeply and hid his snout under the pillow as she laid there.\n\n``Are you ok?'' Asked Eliza, Felix didn't respond at first but he sighed once again and turned to face her.\n\n``I am now. I'm just overwhelmed, I'm so fucking glad she left us alone.''\n\n``I like her.'' Eliza added feeling as if Felix insulted Rita.\n\n``I don't mean it like that, ugh. I just. Really didn't want to go out, aren't you the same?''\n\n``Yeah, but I like her.''\n\n``I know you do, I do too, alright geeze. It's fine. I just meant that I'm glad she allowed us to stay behind.'' Felix paused and shuddered. ``I'm glad she didn't force us, so, so thankful.'' Felix rolled over and faced the wall, Eliza didn't respond back but hugged him from behind and resting her head against him. Both of them breathed deeply as she relaxed together to sleep.\n\nRita drove into town and stopped at the twin's kindergarten. She walked in and noticed everyone was asleep, so she turned to find one of the staff. One sat on a chair reading a book in silence and quickly noticed Rita, they put the book down and stood up to greet her.\n\n``Hello luv, here to pick up the twins?'' She asked,\n\n``You betcha. Have they behaved themselves?'' The staff rubbed the back of her neck as if to say `actually no'.\n\n``Tobias hit one of the kids.''\n\n``Ah bugger, any idea what provoked him?''\n\n``From what I saw, Elijah and Tobias were doing their thing and one kid thought it was funny to split them apart. From their hand holding I mean. Elijah started crying and Tobias just walloped the kid in the face, actually broke a tooth.''\n\n``Oh god.'' Rita said as she rested her face into her palm. ``I'm sorry, Linda.'' The staff nodded back looking withdrawn, she wasn't going to like what she was going say.\n\n``Look Rita, we love your boys. But it's getting to the point that we might have to refuse them. We know it's not their fault.''\n\n``Yeah, yeah I understand.'' Rita said as she looked over to the twins sighing. ``This is the... what, 10th time that the twins hurt another kid?''\n\n``About that yeah.'' The staff stopped rubbing the back of her neck, ``I really do love those two. Very sweet and it really has been a pleasure to interact and play with them. It's just we can't get have any more parents filing complaints against us, we called up the kid's mother and she was understanding thankfully.''\n\n``That's good.'' Rita paused as she looked into the room and saw her sleeping boys, both sucking each other's thumb. ``I better grab them now and take `em home, nothing else I can really do. Thanks so much, Linda.'' Rita looked back at the staff who smiled without a word. Rita crept into the room and knelt quietly before the twins. ``Elijah, Tobias. Come on boys, it's time to go home.'' She whispered as she gently rubbed Tobias's arm, waking him up in the process. ``Gidday, how are you?'' Rita smiled at Tobias; Elijah instinctually removed his thumb from Tobias's mouth for him to respond.\n\n``Hi mum. Good.'' Tobias blinked; his saliva stringed to Elijah's thumb.\n\n``That's good.'' Rita bent down close and kissed Tobias on the forehead and then kissed Elijah, who only now opened his eyes.\n\n``Hi mum.'' Elijah said in a cheerier tone than his significant twin.\n\n``Hello love.'' Rita started to move her arms to lift them both up, both twins more than happy to let her. Carefully and gracefully Rita slowly picked both the boys up and carried them both, each holding onto either side of Rita's shoulders as she held them up from their buttocks. Both Elijah and Tobias rested their head against Rita as she carried them out of the dim and quiet room.\n\n``Hello boys.'' Linda said as she waved at the sleepy-eyed twins. ``I do hope next time nothing bad will happen.'' Linda waved goodbye as Rita and the twins left. Rita put the two in the backseat of her Landcruiser and drove them home. When they got home, she took both the boys out of the car and onto the ground for them to hold hands and walk, she locked the car and opened the house. The first thing she had to do is check on Felix and Eliza. She walked down the corridor to Felix's room, opened the door slightly and quietly to not wake them up. Both asleep soundly as Eliza clutched to Felix from behind as they both faced the wall. Rita left without a word or sign she was there and went to relax watching TV in the living room. As Rita left to the living room the twins stepped around the corner without her noticing and walked down to Felix's room. They opened the door with enough of a creak to wake up Eliza. Eliza rolled over and waved at them.\n\n``Hello.'' She said with a yawn, Elijah opened his mouth to say something to only get it covered by Tobias's hand. They stared at each other for a moment and then faced at Eliza.\n\n``Can we join? We're tired too.'' Tobias asked softly. Eliza nodded back allowing them to climb in, there was barely any space but the twins made good use of it as Elijah hugged Eliza while Tobias hugged him; Elijah and Tobias couldn't be happier to be with their saviours. Some time passed and Felix rolled over to face Eliza, he opened an eye as he felt an extra arm. He saw the twins and while he was surprised, he didn't care. So what if they joined his already cramped bed and he wanted to be alone? Besides, he's never felt safer despite how cramped and in the corner of his bed. He rubbed Elijah's arm and felt his soft fur, rubbed Eliza's and felt how short and smooth it was. He never really thought about the fur difference between him and other races. He continued to stroke Eliza and Elijah's arm, after a while the answer was clear. Elijah, and most likely Tobias too, have much nicer fur. Perhaps it's because they are so pampered and smothered in love, or perhaps they actually do have nicer fur by default. It was longer than both his and Eliza's, it felt soft and smooth and he wanted to keep stroking him like he was a pet. Elijah's eyes opened and panic set in to Felix. Elijah smiled widely and his eyes sparkled as the light reflected from the blinds, he wasn't the least bit upset at Felix stroking his arm. To Felix though his heart raced and he continued to panic, he was doing what Noah did to him and he knew it. Elijah's tail wagged causing Tobias to wake up, he raised his head to look over Elijah and faintly smiled looking at Felix.\n\n``Hey.'' Felix managed to say, he gulped to himself.\n\n``Hello.'' Elijah said putting his thumb in his mouth, Tobias put his head over Elijah's shoulder and rested on him. \n\n``Hello.'' Tobias said also reaching over to put his thumb in his mouth.\n\n``What's up?'' Felix asked, trying to forget what he is feeling. Elijah looked puzzled at first as he took it literally, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. ``No no I mean. How are you?''\n\n``We're fine.'' Tobias replied, ``We enjoy sleeping with you two.'' \n\n``I can tell. But, why?''\n\n``You're our heroes.'' Felix felt a pit inside him as Tobias said that, he doesn't want to be a hero. If anything, HE needed to be saved ages ago, how can he be a hero if he never got saved? His mind quarrelled about the notion of being a hero and his ears folded back. Neither of the twins could tell he was feeling uncomfortable, he could feel his right eye twitch; so he held Eliza tighter to him. The twins both closed their eyes as they went back to snoozing with him. His thumping heart and heavy breathing still present as he tried to relax by closing his eyes. He felt Eliza nuzzle his chest and opened his to see her staring at him.\n\n``You ookie?'' She asked casually, it's not the first time she has felt Felix freak out in silence.\n\n``I think so.'' He whispered. ``I'm going to get up, I'm not tired anymore.'' Felix sat up and scooted to the end of the bed put his feet on the ground to stand up. Eliza yawned and started to do the same but Elijah held her the bed.\n\n``Can you let go? Pwease?'' Eliza said as she tried to get up, Elijah let go causing him to push himself away causing Tobias to fall out of bed. Elijah rolled off quickly and went over Tobias to flop on the ground behind him.\n\n``Geeze you two, are you alright?'' Felix said as he saw the ungraceful display.\n\n``Yeah.'' Tobias said rubbing the back of his head, Elijah wrapped his arms around Tobias from behind and laughed. \n\n``That was fun.'' He giggled into Tobias's ear, he pulled Tobias inwards to himself. Eliza got off the bed and stood over them laughing.\n\n``This did look fun.'' Eliza helped Elijah and Tobias up by lending a hand. ``Wanna play outside?'' Eliza asked as she squeezed Mary close to her.\n\n``Sure!'' Elijah's face lit up with Tobias grabbing his hand. ``Let's goooooo!'' Elijah yelled as he and Tobias ran down the corridor, Eliza ran behind eager to play. Felix stood alone in his room as the sudden noise and crowd disappeared. He sighed as he sat down on his bed again, his ears folding back. He felt sick. He got up and walked to the bathroom and held himself over the toilet and began to throw up. When he was done he slowly stood himself up straight and flushed the toilet and wiped his face and mouth on his shirt. As he left the bathroom Rita was a few feet away,\n\n``Felix are you ok? I heard you throwing up.'' Rita said looking concerned.\n\n``I'm fine.'' Felix said wanting to keep moving and not talk.\n\n``Are you sure? Maybe you need some TV time and having the fan on you to feel better.'' Rita suggested. Felix wanted to say no and go back to his room, but he was going to say yes if she wasn't going to join him.\n\n``Will I be alone?'' He asked only now looking at her.\n\n``As alone as you can be with the other kids outside. I won't be in the back-living room if that is what you are asking.''\n\n``Ok.'' \n\n``Good.'' Rita turned and headed back and walked to kitchen. Felix walked his way to the back-living room, turned on a fan to blow on his face, grabbed the remote and started idling swapping stations. Rita poured a glass of cold water and came back to Felix. ``I thought you might need this though to wash that awful taste out of your mouth.'' Felix looked at her grabbed the glass and held it close, Rita left to the front living room. He drunk the cold water and the awful taste and the awful feelings out. He gulped the rest down feeling great thirst that he didn't know he had. He wanted to turn his head and ask for more, but Rita wasn't there. Felix got up and went to the kitchen, opened up the second fridge that Rita mentioned and grabbed a bottle of cold water. He unscrewed it and drunk half of it before he realized. He breathed deeply and coughed as he walked back to the lounge under the fan's beautiful gaze. The kids channel had some crappy cartoon but it was better than nothing. Felix kept watching cartoon after cartoon trying to forget emotions, to no avail. Then one cartoon came on, about a kid by day but super hero by night. Felix found the concept stupid and the character annoying, but then the episode turned to something he was not prepared for. The main character was crying about letting those around him down, saying ``I can't be everywhere at once. No matter how hard I try I will always let someone down.'' Then what came next kicked Felix while he was down, as the main character then said ``What about me? I need saving too you know. No one ever came to my rescue and no one ever saved me from my bullies. Why didn't someone look out for me back then, you know? Sometimes I wish I wasn't a super hero.''\n\nFelix's mind was in turmoil and his eyes were watering up. At first he was mad, angry that this stupid cartoon was manipulating his emotions. Then the words kicked in. `What about me?' `No one ever came to my rescue.' `Why didn't someone look out for me.' Felix gritted his teeth as he struggled to contain himself. He didn't want to run to his room, not yet, for the lounge was comfortable and the fan was wonderful. His chest convulsed with deep sadness washing over him, he started to growl.\n\n``It's not fucking fair.'' He growled, ``Why didn't anyone protect me when I was young? Why do I have such a crappy life? Why was I chosen? It's not fucking fair.'' He growled as his sniffed and curled his body inward into a foetal position. ``It's not fair.'' He rubbed his tears away as he tried to return to a steel resolve. Emotions burned in his chest, his gut and his head. He slowly gained his composure back and fought against his outburst of emotions.\n\n``Hello!'' A voice came to his left, Elijah and Tobias sat down on the lounge together next to him. As he looked at them, he saw their pure innocent eyes gleam at him with Elijah's oblivious smile and Tobias's flat expression. Elijah sat with his right leg resting on the lounge with his left up standing upright as he faced Felix; Tobias sat behind him with an arm around Elijah. The word `hero' started playing in Felix's head once more, of how they see him, and then the quote from the cartoon ringing in his mind once again. Felix's face broke, his mouth quivered, his eyes twitched, his teeth chattered, his chest convulsed with aggressive grief and his eyes became hazy; he lost all control and became a sobbing mess, going so far to crying out loud. He crawled to the twins and embraced them both as he bawled his eyes out, wailing uncontrollably. Elijah, caught completely off guard, started crying as well with Tobias remaining wordless as tears came out of his eyes as well. Neither twin could ask what was going on, even Tobias couldn't form a word, as they saw their hero break down before them without warning. Eliza came running from outside hearing Felix cry, fearing something bad had happened. She stood in the sliding doorway and was frozen, she had never seen him cry like this, ever. She held Mary by an arm as she stood limped armed. She saw movement from the kitchen and saw Rita and Nathan watching, also wordless. Felix continued to cry as he leaned into the twins as he held them close. Soon Felix started crying out words.\n\n``WHHHHYY!?'' Felix cried, causing Nathan to walk over. ``WHY DID NO ONE LOOK OUT FOR ME!?'' Felix continued, Nathan knelt down before Felix and the twins with Eliza only now moving around Felix. ``IT'S NOT FAAIR!!!'' Felix started to shake the twins as he yelled. Nathan looked over at Rita and gestured to her to come over, he sighed and reached out a hand to Felix. Felix's shuddered as he felt Felix graze his fur, he turned and looked at Nathan.\n\n``Felix...'' Nathan said with empathy and care.\n\n``WHAT!? WHY!?'' Felix continued to yell in his emotional breakdown. \n\n``We saved you, we saved you.''\n\n``A BIT FUCKING LATE!!'' Felix growled, he started to cough. Tobias and Elijah looked at their father with confusion and `we are lost' all over their faces. Eliza sat down behind Felix and grabbed him from behind for a hug, Felix did not react negatively. ``It should have happened fucking YEARS ago.'' Felix cried, only now he isn't shouting.\n\n``We came when we could, Felix. You are in a nice house now. You are safe.''\n\n``It should have happened YEARS ago!'' Felix cried, his eye and mouth still twitching.\n\n``I know, Felix. I'm sorry. Please let go of the twins, they're confused and overwhelmed.'' Felix breathed heavily as his sobbed, he slowly let go of the twins who stared in silence and completely still. Rita grabbed both of them and lifted them up, both still crying but without sound. Felix remained hunched forward as his body tensed up, he watched the twins be held by Rita and his heart ached more. \n\n``Why is your family so perfect? Why was mine so shit?'' Felix sobbed, ``It's not fair. What did I do to deserve my bad families, why do I deserve yours?'' Nathan moved closer and held a hand close to Felix to hold, he did not dare to try to touch yet alone hug Felix. \n\n``You've done nothing wrong, Felix. You've never done anything to deserve what you've been through. The ones who mistreated you are the ones who decided your life.'' Nathan's eyes looked to the point of crying as he heartfeltly tried to give an acceptable answer to a very emotional boy. ``You haven't done anything to make us choose you two to live with us either. `We' chose for you two to come live with us, and we are very sorry we couldn't have gotten you two any faster.'' Felix tears started rolling again as he broke down even more, he lunged to Nathan and embraced into him to hide his tears. Eliza let go of Felix as he stretched too far for her to hold on, so she moved closer and continued to hug him. Felix wailed, screamed and sobbed uncontrollably as he cried into Nathan; Nathan only now putting an arm around him and a hand at the back of Felix's head. Felix screamed muffled words that Nathan could only understand as ``it's not fair'' continuously, his body shaking erratically with every scream. Nathan had a brainstorm and it was now or never to try to comfort Felix, if it doesn't then at least Felix will get angry and uncomfortable rather than emotional. Nathan stood up and lifted Felix up to hold him up like he would to a baby, cradling Felix in his arms; Eliza letting go as Felix went up. Felix squirmed and looked around feeling freaked out and confused.\n\n``What are you doing!?'' Felix said as he wanted to squirm and break free.\n\n``When the twins can't settle down, they like being carried. Makes them feel secure and loved.'' Nathan said looking forward, to not make Felix anymore uncomfortable by looking at him. \n\n``This is fucking weird.'' Felix said as he locked himself into position, fearing that Nathan will drop him.\n\n``Put your left arm around my neck to help with your balance.'' Nathan recommended, Felix doing so quickly and only feeling slightly better about this embarrassing predicament. Nathan gently swayed Felix humming a song, Felix rested his head against Nathan and shivered as he sobbed; the song was sweet but Felix's stubbornness thought it was dumb. Felix was far heavier than the twins but Nathan pretended as if he could take it, the adrenaline of doing something out of the ordinary carrying his strength. Nathan turned and faced Rita who held both the twins from under them as they held onto her shoulders, she smiled as the twin's shocked faces were only just relaxing. Eliza got up from the lounge and moved to stand next to Nathan, looking up at Felix with worry. Nathan moved Felix around the room as he held onto him, Felix sniffed and shook as he sobbed. \n\n``You can put me down now.'' Felix sniffed; 5 minutes had passed. Nathan carefully put Felix back down on his two feet, Felix sniffed and took a seat on the lounge once more.\n\n``How are you feeling, Felix?'' \n\n``Do me do me!'' Eliza interjected, jumping up and down. Nathan groaned as he stretched his back and then nodded, he picked up Eliza and she wrapped an arm around Nathan's neck for balance; just like what Felix did.\n\n``I'm feeling better.'' Felix said with a shudder, his body was still shaking, his head was hot and his gut was empty; but he wasn't as emotional as he was before. The twins calmed down and were processing things once more, poked Rita to put them down. Once down the twins walked up to Felix and stood before him, Elijah had a sad look to him while Tobias looked normal. ``Sorry about before.'' Felix sighed looking at the twins. Just the very mention of `sorry' put the oblivious smile onto Elijah's face and a spring to his tail.\n\n``We love you.'' Tobias said, his face was exhausted as if he had a fever.\n\n``I love you two too.'' Felix said.\n\n``Alright you two we're gonna go for a walk.'' Rita said in her jolly tone, Elijah and Tobias turned around with both of them shaking their head. ``Oh, come on you two I'm probably going to be carrying you two a bunch of the way. Let's get some fresh air.'' The twins followed Rita holding hands as she walked to the front door, a much-needed exit for Felix. Nathan put Eliza down and so she could sit next to him, she clutched Mary close.\n\n``I know you are probably exhausted, and you probably still feel like garbage. But, do you want to talk about this?'' Nathan said as he sat on a separate chair. Felix didn't respond at first, he felt so drained and emotionally exhausted. After a moment, Felix looked up at Nathan and then back down with a shrug.\n\n``Fine. I just...'' Felix still could feel his gut wrenching and his freaking out, it made thinking even harder. ``I lost it.''\n\n``What happened?'' Nathan asked trying to get the bigger picture.\n\n``There was this stupid cartoon on the TV, dumb kid super hero. He was complaining that he never gets saved, he can't save everyone and blah blah blah...'' Felix leaned back into the lounge, ``With the twins calling me a hero, like I don't really care too much, I think. But it made me think of me, how I wish I had a hero. No one was really there for me growing up, I was either being yelled at, punched, treated like shit and molested. I dreamed for someone to save me, only to wake up to the fucking homes I lived in.'' Explained Felix, he pulled his legs in and crossed his arms. ``It fucking hurts. Remembering everything and worse, it hurts that no one fucking `cared'. Noah was only interested in one thing and made me feel like the one way I `could' be happy is if I let him. Fucking liar.'' Felix sniffed and hunched himself into a ball. ``To be called a hero, just made me wish I had one.''\n\n``You've been through so much Felix... I can definitely see why and how you reacted the way you did.'' Nathan said, he leaned forward to get a better look at Felix.\n\n``You fucking telling me that you are my saviours, it fucking hurts...''\n\n``If we knew of you way earlier, we would have jumped many hoops to take you from harm.'' Nathan sighed and then looked at Eliza. ``But then, you wouldn't have met Eliza. I'm not sure we would have found both of you otherwise.'' Felix started to whine as tears started to flow and he attempts of keeping himself strong.\n\n``Life is so fucking unfair.'' Felix sniffed, ``For both of us.'' Felix turned to Eliza to only see her shaking in her arms.\n\n``That's why Rita and I are trying so hard to help you two, to give you two the things you deserved and never got. We only wish we could have gotten you too sooner. But any time is better than never. It was a possibility that we would never have seen you two up for adoption.''\n\n``And you would have gotten someone else.'' Felix said now looking Nathan in the eyes.\n\n``Maybe. Rita and I weren't really looking to adopt, but when we heard of two kids that desperately need a home and to be taken in together, we got serious in our discussions and planning's. If we didn't hear about you two, I don't know if we could have adopted you two in time.''\n\n``But didn't you say you were thinking about adoptions?''\n\n``We were, but we weren't convinced.'' Nathan smiled and his eyes took a kind and nurturing shape, ``And we are so glad we adopted you two. It will be hard on all of us, but mostly you two and we accepted that. Seeing you two in our home, in well deserved comfort and love makes us truly happy. It's why we keep staring at you two, because we're so glad we saved you two; if that is an appropriate word to say.'' Felix's eyes could not contain themselves and kept on crying, he looked down in an awkward silence. ``And we mean it, we are so glad that we adopted you two.''\n\n``Thank you, thank you so much.'' Felix said barely holding himself from bursting into loud cries, Eliza hugged Felix and rested her head on him.\n\n``Thank youuu.'' Eliza said also, she wanted to say so much but could never find the words. She hated how stuck and silent she gets when Felix is crying. Nathan reached a hand and stroked Eliza's check and chin, lifting it up.\n\n``You two are most welcome. Keep your chins high, you two. You can't be sad forever, because Rita and I won't let you be. There's a lot that we and life can give you two.'' Nathan said, he got off his chair and crouched before them. ``Besides, have I told you two how much I don't like crouching like this. I've done this quite a lot for the twins and you two.''\n\n``Then why do it?'' Felix asked feeling puzzled.\n\n``Because it allows me to be right there where I need to be. I don't expect eye contact, but being close and down to a kid's level makes it personal and interactive with what I say, as well as what I hear back. If I wasn't personal with what I say and do, it would mean that I don't care. Besides, parents have to deal with pain and discomfort for their kids. It's a normal thing, I just do it in a certain way.''\n\n``That kind of makes sense, but makes you weird.''\n\n``I like it.'' Eliza said smiling widely, ``Makes me feel like you truly love me- us.''\n\n``Don't be afraid to say `me', Eliza.'' Nathan's sweet smile making Eliza feeling warm and fuzzy. ``Saying `me' about a positive thing regarding you makes you feel special. It's perfectly ok to say `us' in regards to you and Felix. But sometimes it feels nice to say `me', makes it personal. Ido wish the twins do that more, but. They do what they do.'' Nathan put one knee to the ground to kneel with the other. ``But I have to ask one thing, so we are completely clear between us. Felix, you really don't like being touched?'' Felix looked at Nathan with discomfort and then away. \n\n``I really don't like it, makes me feel weird and sets my bad moods off.''\n\n``And you're perfectly fine with Eliza and the twins?''\n\n``Because they're not adults.'' Felix said with a stern look, his tears drying away.\n\n``I thought so.'' Nathan smiled, ``While we would love to hug you to make you feel better, it would be best when you decide on when that happens, wouldn't it? Like before, I you hugged me so tightly.''\n\n``Makes sense, what of it?''\n\n``I'm just trying to understand.'' Nathan smiled with a half chuckle. ``I'm sorry that this is making you uncomfortable. It's important we get the ground rules out so all is comfortable, working with other kids I have to do that since a lot of them have different needs.'' Felix's eyes got intense and suspicious looking as Nathan said that. ``Felix, not like that. I mean special needs, learning difficulties, delayed learning, autism. Not anything like what you got spooked about just now.''\n\n``Good.'' Felix said with a shiver, he rested his head against Eliza's. \n\n``And you, Eliza. What are your boundaries?'' Nathan said facing Eliza. Eliza stared in puzzlement and then looked to Felix for help. ``Ok Eliza, what are you comfortable with and not comfortable with? When it comes to contact with other people like Rita and I, or the twins, another kid you don't know, a stranger? I'm sure some of the answers are obvious.'' Nathan explained, Eliza looked down as she thought deeply and then holding Mary out to talk.\n\n``-We don't know. We love being hugged, by you and mum. Love hugs from Felix. Love hugs from twins-.'' Eliza's Mary voice croaked; ``-We don't like others. No touch, scared, really scared, angry-.'' Mary elaborated. \n\n``She hates elephants, like Hanna. Absolutely scared and hates them.'' Felix added, not bothering to make eye contact, Eliza nodded in a state of panic. Nathan nodded and smiled with a sigh.\n\n``Yes, I remember that. So, from what I'm getting, Eliza, you love being hugged by me and Rita, Felix and the twins. But you would not like it with others, especially if they're an elephant. Can I ask one question though?'' Nathan careful tone was strong with him keeping note, Eliza nodded back as to say `go ahead.' ``Why were you so eager to hug Rita and I when we first met? You hardly knew us but all you wanted were hugs and love.'' Eliza looked at Nathan at first in discomfort, then in a thinking state, then smiled and giggled in a nervous tone.\n\n``-We were hopeful. Scared, very scared, but hopeful-.'' \n\n``If I may share my theory?'' Felix asked, he stopped resting his head against Eliza to face her, she nodded back. ``You were desperate for love, not as much as you were desperate that they were good.'' Felix's tired and worn-down tone was strong in his words, Eliza nodded back erratically with a few involuntary giggles.\n\n``Oh, Eliza.'' Nathan said with emotional pity, he moved over and hugged Eliza who squeezed him tight back. ``Now I got to go lie down, I just got home.'' Nathan let go of Eliza and slowly stood up, both Felix and Eliza could hear his bones crack.\n\n``Yeesh.'' Commented Felix, ``That sounds like it hurt.'' Nathan looked down to Felix with his hands straightening out his lower back, Nathan grinned.\n\n``On the contrary, that felt amazing.'' Nathan chuckled as he walked away. \n\n``Can we play the x-box? I forget if I have to ask for permission.'' Felix asked before Nathan disappeared. \n\n``Then depends on what you play, if Eliza will join you then I'll have to be present.'' Nathan replied, Felix looked to Eliza who was eager to play.\n\n``I wanna play Halo again.'' Eliza said with a smile, Nathan turned around and in a tired laugh he nodded.\n\n``I guess I'll be lounging with you two then. I'm going to need the long bit to lie down though, that's all I'll ask.''\n\n``Yeah sure.'' Felix said as he got off the spot that Nathan requested, he got down and grabbed the controllers and turned the console on. Nathan sat down, took his shoes off, laid back on the lounge as Felix and Eliza played Halo. As they played a new level, Felix turned to Eliza with a mix of serious and sorry eyes. ``I'm sorry about before.'' Eliza grinned and then frowned momentarily; she was struggling to figure out how to feel about his remark.\n\n``It's ookie.'' \n\n``No it's not. I know it bothers you a lot, I'm sorry.'' Eliza took a moment and then slowly nodded back.\n\n``-It upsets us so much, so confused and scared. Worried-.'' Eliza said in Mary's voice, she held Mary up for assistance. \n\n``I knew it. I love you- oh shit there's a lot of grunts here.'' Felix said as he snapped his attention to the game, Eliza laughed focused on the game too. Nathan crossed his arms as he laid back trying to relax. When Rita and the twins came back it had been 30 minutes, it was time to cook dinner.\n\n``How are you lot going huh?'' Rita said as she walked up, Nathan looked up at her and smiled.\n\n``Things are fine, love.'' Nathan then checked his watch and sighed with an added groan. ``I'm sorry, I should probably be thinking about dinner.''\n\n``Nah, I'll cook.''\n\n``You sure?'' As Nathan and Rita discussed dinner plans Felix paused the game.\n\n``Wouldn't ordering pizza be easy?'' Felix said with a shrug, Rita laughed and walked over behind the lounge.\n\n``We can't have pizza all the time, no matter how tempting it is.'' Rita rested her head on Nathan as she rubbed his chest. ``So, I reckon we should have steak and salad.''\n\n``Mmm... how about a BBQ?''\n\n``Ooh a BBQ does sound nice, would be a nice change from having it on a day that isn't Saturday.''\n\n``I can do it, if you do the salad.''\n\n``Bah!'' Rita laughed and then started tickling Nathan, who tried to push her arms away. Felix watched in shock while Eliza laughed. ``I will do the BBQ, you will do the salad. You know how much I hate cutting up salad, don't you dare tease me.'' Rita laughed, she removed herself from Nathan and went straight to the kitchen with Nathan breathless in amusement.\n\n``Alright, alright.'' Nathan smirked, he turned to Felix and Eliza. ``Now, could you two play a different game? Something the twins could watch?'' Nathan asked as he saw the twins come over.\n\n``But we haven't finished the level yet.'' Eliza complained, \n\n``I know I know, but the twins should not watch Halo. Please put in another game, like...'' Nathan got off the lounge with some stiff movements and went to the game pile. He grabbed one and showed it to them. ``Like this one, Star Wars Knights of the old republic. I know it should be fine, the twins will love watching you two play it.'' He handed the box to Felix who looked over it immediately.\n\n``But this game isn't two-player.'' Felix said with an unamused look.\n\n``It isn't? I'm sorry,''\n\n``I mean I still want to play it; we can take turns?'' Felix said looking at Eliza, she shook her head at first before thinking, then changed her attitude to a nod.\n\n``Thank you, you two. I much appreciate it.'' Nathan left to the kitchen as Rita went past with a tray of meat. Nathan put the game in and sat back down, both he and Eliza were eager to see this one. They've seen a Star Wars movie so they had an idea of what it was going to look like. Felix and Eliza decided on a male character and chose the name `Elix' after a short discussion; Eliza and Felix combined together. As Felix played, they voted on what responses to give, getting a chuckle at the reactions of the NPCs. The twins walked over and sat on the lounge, Elijah excited and engrossed in what was on the TV while Tobias stared intently in silence.\n\n``What's this?'' Elijah asked looking excited,\n\n``It's er... a Star Wars game, Star Wars Knights of the old republic.'' Felix handed the box to the twins, Elijah looked at it and tried his best to make sense of it. Tobias wrapped an arm around him and pressed his head against Elijah looking at the box. Tobias read out and explained what he understood, allowing Elijah to understand.\n\n``This looks freaking cool!'' Elijah yelled in excitement.\n\n``I know right?'' Felix added, Tobias clutched close to Elijah as they watched on the lounge. Occasionally he would sniff and breathe deeply of Elijah's fur and hair, something Felix could hear. ``Hey, so why are you smelling Elijah?'' Felix asked offhandedly, Tobias looked up with a plain expression that Felix couldn't tell if he was bothered or not.\n\n``I love to smell Elijah, he smells nice.''\n\n``He likes smells!'' Elijah added,\n\n``Good smells, sweet smells. Like mum, like dad, like mum's perfume, like dad's perfume, like flowers, like you.'' Tobias added.\n\n``He looooves mummy's perfume.'' Elijah giggled,\n\n``He loves daddy's perfume.''\n\n``Wait, me?'' Felix looked positively confused, yet not worried a bit.\n\n``Both of you. You smell nice, different, good. Makes me feel good, calm, safe.''\n\n``Oh ok. What about you?'' Felix asked Elijah, he giggled and nodded vigorously causing Tobias to shake about as he held onto him.\n\n``I like good smells, but he likes them more. We smell each other a lot!''\n\n``Makes us happy.'' \n\n``Very, very happy!'' Elijah giggled as he leaned back against Tobias who pulled him close to lie down.\n\n``We like the smells.'' Tobias repeated, breathing deeply into Elijah who continued giggle and fidget in compliance. Soon the two swapped places allowing Elijah to hold Tobias from behind to breath him deeply. \n\n``You want to smell?'' Elijah offered; Felix shook his head immediately to hide his sudden discomfort.\n\n``No thanks.''\n\n``Tomorrow? We smell nice, you will love to smell us.'' Elijah pressed, Felix trying to focus himself on the game.\n\n``Don't push him, Elijah.'' Nathan called out, ``He doesn't have to if he doesn't want to. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you; it means he isn't comfortable so don't get upset.'' Elijah and Tobias turned their heads back to Nathan in the kitchen, Elijah lowered his head in sadness with Tobias nodding in understanding. Felix felt immediate relief and looked over to Nathan cutting tomatoes in the kitchen, he appreciated Nathan for coming in to stop them. Then it hit him, and it really hit him, that Nathan really was looking out for him. He knew that he was trying to, he just suspected Nathan's bad intentions. Then it sunk in, Nathen really is looking out for him and cares about him; even though the feeling is so foreign. He looked at Nathan and for the first time in his life he felt remote comfort and love towards him, even though the rest of him was screaming to keep his distance. Felix smiled as he watched Nathan before becoming self-conscious and anxious, he turned to Eliza for her turn to play. Dinner came with a tray full of cooked sausages, steakettes, eggs and cooked onion. Nathan added his salad try to the table which had lettuce, tomatoes, shredded carrot and sliced cucumber. Bread and buns were also on the table with tomato sauce and margarine to go with; to Felix and Eliza it looked like a feast. Felix and Eliza paused their game and sat in their usual spots like everyone else, Rita distributed sausages and the steakettes around while Nathan distributed the salad. Felix ate as much as he could, forgetting that he threw up before causing him to be far hungrier than he expected; Eliza too ate a lot. \n\nWhen dinner was over, Felix and the other three sat back at the lounge to continue the game while Nathan and Rita cleaned up. Tobias clung to Elijah from behind and rested his chin on Elijah's shoulder as they watched, neither of them really have been exposed to video games before. Tobias felt Elijah's fur all over as he rested against him causing Elijah to giggle every so often. It was like seeing another cat kneading another. Felix and Eliza kept taking turns as they played, but suddenly it was 8pm already as a boom could be felt.\n\n``8 o'clock rock!'' Elijah yelled, he rolled back to lay over Tobias. \n\n``Ffffff... 8 already?'' Felix said in disbelieve, only barely holding back a swear. \n\n``Unfortunately, it is yeah.'' Nathan said as he walked up to the kids, he looked down with a smile shaking his head at the twins. Elijah stuck his tongue out with Tobias underneath him. ``Come on you two, let's get you two washed up and ready for bed.'' Nathan said to the twins, Tobias finally let go of Elijah allowing him to be freed from being laid upon. Elijah stood up and waited for Tobias before holding hands and following Nathan. Nathan poured the bath and helped strip the boys as they chatted to each other in their special language. When the bath was finally ready, Nathan told them it was time to hop in. Once they were in the tub, Nathan knelt before them with shampoo and conditioner at the ready. ``Can you two take turns at washing each other with soap while I wash your hair, please?'' Nathan asked, the twins were more than happy to oblige; they loved cleaning each other and also loved having their hair washed by their Dad. The twins continued to talk in their special language, occasionally going back into English for a short moment. Nathan first washed Elijah's hair and used rose scented shampoo, Elijah enjoyed the smell but it was Tobias who loved smelling the most. When it was Tobias's turn, Nathan grabbed a pomegranate and raspberry shampoo for Tobias. Tobias chose the bottle when shopping, deciding on it because the bottle was purple; Elijah loves how it smells on Tobias. Nathan washed and cleaned both of the boys' hair and grabbed the conditioner bottles for each of them; a rose scented bottle for Elijah and a pomegranate and raspberry for Tobias. Unbeknown to Nathan and the twins was a watching Felix, silently watching around the corner. As Nathan and the twins left his anxiety peaked with `what if' questions, fearing of the possibilities and had to be sure. He watched as Nathan washed the twin's hair while he engaged with them in small talk, asking how their day was before being ignored when they start talking in their special language together. Felix was worried that something Nathan didn't want him to see when it came to bath time, but as Felix learned there wasn't anything suspicious to be seen. Nathan stood up with his shirt and pants wet, stretched his back; he was done. ``There we go boys, now have you two cleaned each other well?''\n\n``I don't know.'' Tobias replied looking up at Nathan, his wet hair making him look particularly emo to Felix. \n\n``Do you two want me to wash you two?'' Nathan asked,\n\n``Yes.'' \n\n``Yes what?'' Nathan said with a hand to his ear, waiting to hear something extra.\n\n``Yes please.'' Tobias replied with Elijah giggling. \n\n``There we go. I'm more than happy to,'' Nathan said with a grunt, kneeling back down to the floor. He held his hand out and was given the soap from the twins. He began to wash all over their bodies as the twins chatted. Felix watched intently, bracing himself, holding his breath. Nathan worked on one boy at a time, lifting arms up to clean underneath, washing under, between and over their legs before washing their backs. Once the washing was done, Nathan grabbed an empty container and swooped up some of the bath water before pouring over each of the boys' heads. \n\n``Yay! Again!'' Elijah yelled, Nathan grabbed more water and poured it over Elijah's head.\n\n``Alright you two, I'll leave you for now.'' Nathan said as he stood back up using the side of the bath to balance himself. Before Nathan turned around Felix removed himself from his hiding spot and walked quietly but quickly back to the living room. Felix sat back down in the living room and continued to watch Eliza play the game. Nathan turned the corner with the lower part of his shirt wet. ``Gidday you two, how's that going?'' Nathan said as he walked into the kitchen. \n\n``Good! I levelled up!'' Eliza called back with a grin,\n\n``That's great. What level are you?''\n\n``Level 4.''\n\n``That's great.'' Nathan smiled back, grabbing a drink from the fridge. ``Now the twins are in the bath but they can hop out whenever you two want to hop in.'' Nathan drunk from a glass of cold water, Eliza handed the controller to Felix and looked over.\n\n``You're wet!'' Eliza laughed, Nathan looked down and then leaned into the counter to hide his shirt.\n\n``No, I'm not!'' Nathan replied putting on a joke face.\n\n``Yes, you are!'' Teased Eliza.\n\n``Ok maybe I am. I had to help wash the twins.'' \n\n``Why don't they do it themselves?'' Felix asked as he turned his head over.\n\n``Well, they enjoy it when Rita or I do it. That's all. Besides they aren't very good at making themselves clean so they need the help.'' Nathan said as he stood up straight once more. Nathan stretched and yawned, rubbing his back in the process. Nathan left the kitchen to his room to have a shower of his own, leaving Eliza and Felix alone.\n\n``So, where were you?'' Eliza asked looking at Felix, his expression wasn't doing a good job of making it look like `nothing'. \n\n``I was watching him clean them.'' Felix said with a bit of delay, he turned to Eliza and sighed. ``I was worried ok? Nothing bad happened, but I had to be sure.'' Admitted Felix, Eliza looked at him with a tilt of her head. \n\n``They're nice.'' \n\n``I know, I know. I know they aren't Noah and Hanna I just... I can't help it, Eliza.'' With that said Eliza nodded, she understood enough, they continued to play their game. As Nathan walked into his bedroom Rita was lying on the bed watching TV.\n\n``Did you know that Felix was watching you?'' Rita asked as he got to the ensuite bathroom, Nathan turned around and was caught off guard.\n\n``No, I didn't.'' Nathan said as he took his tie off. \n\n``He was down the hallway watching from around the corner.'' Rita explained, Nathan sighed. \n\n``I had no idea; I was too focused on cleaning the twins. Did you say anything to him?''\n\n``No, I didn't even let him know I saw him. Didn't want to spook the poor fella.'' Rita said as she grabbed a water bottle on the bedside table to drink.\n\n``Good idea, but. I really didn't know he was there. When I came out, he wasn't there and sitting next to Eliza.''\n\n``Hah, the boy was too quick and quiet for you.'' Rita chuckled; Nathan took his shoes off as he sat on the bed.\n\n``Well, I don't want to bring it up. Don't want to confront him and make him uncomfortable.''\n\n``We better tell him someday though; he can't keep doing that behind our backs. He could get in trouble doing it elsewhere.''\n\n``I know, you're right.'' Nathan took his socks and belt off. ``Right now, I need a shower.'' Nathan grabbed his pajamas and headed for his shower. When it was done, he dried himself, dressed himself and walked down feeling fresh. ``God, I needed that.'' Nathan said as he walked around the bed to leave the room, before leaving he went over to Rita and kissed her. \n\n``You sweet thing.'' Rita said with a smirk. Nathan left the room to check on the kids, Felix and Eliza were still playing and he didn't see the twins; they were probably still in the bath. Nathan walked past Felix and Eliza, waving at them as he past, whom also waved back. He went down the corridor to the bathroom to see, yep, the twins were still in the bath.\n\n``Gidday you two. Think it's time to get out of the tub?'' Nathan asked as he stood in the doorway, the twins looked at him with bubbles covering their heads. \n\n``No.'' Elijah said with a giggle,\n\n``Come on, what about Eliza and Felix? They'll need a shower too.'' The twins looked at each other, back at Nathan and then removed the bubbles from each other's hair. They slowly got out of the bath, using each other and the bath for balance, and walked up to get their towels. ``Thank you, boys. I'll let Felix and Eliza know the bath is free.'' \n\n``Can you dry us?'' Elijah asked looking up at Nathan, Nathan turned and smiled.\n\n``Yeah, I can do that.'' Nathan said in a soft voice, he came over, grabbed Elijah's towel and started to dry him. Nathan wasn't all that eager to dry his sons, but he obliged in it knowing that they'll at least be dry. That and he gets to spend more time with them, as he knows someday, he will miss these moments. He dried them both as best as he could, squeezing their faces with the towel as he dried them. Through this he got the biggest smile out of Tobias ever, even if it wasn't genuine. Once the boys were dried he helped them get dressed and then headed back to Felix and Eliza. ``Hey you two, the bath is waiting for you. Get it while it's not cold.'' Nathan said as he turned the corner, both Eliza and Felix were still engrossed in the game. ``Felix, Eliza. I think you two should have your bath.'' Nathan said in a slightly sterner voice, Eliza paused the game and got Felix to pay attention.\n\n``Can we have our bath later?'' Felix asked,\n\n``What? And get a cold bath in return?'' Mused Nathan.\n\n``It's hot anyway, what's the problem? Besides we want to keep playing.'' Nathan then quickly realized what was happening, both of them were already addicted to the game. `That is alright, they need something to help forget things' Nathan thought, `I hope I have not got you two addicted though.'\n\n``No, I think you two should have a shower now, that way you can keep playing it before going to bed.'' Nathan rationalized to them,\n\n``But I really want to keep playing.'' Felix complained,\n\n``Yeah, we like playing this a lot.'' Eliza added.\n\n``Felix, Eliza.'' Nathan said even sterner, getting them both to pay attention. ``I suggest you two have a bath and come back.'' \n\n``Oh alright.'' Felix complained, Eliza put the controller down and the both of them walked off to have their bath. Nathan sighed and shook his head as they disappeared, `Yep, they are definitely addicted to it.' Nathan turned around and went to check in on the twins, who both were in their room lying on the bed belly first together. They were kicking their feet as they chatted about the game that both Felix and Eliza were playing, making noise effects and giggling at it. Nathan sighed as he smiled looking at his twins, it was the simplest of things to witness that made him happy; even if they too are probably already hooked on the game Eliza and Felix were playing. Nathan checked the time and saw it was close to bedtime for the twins, it was an earlier night for them as tomorrow they had to go to school. The twins only went on every other day for school as it was a pattern that they focused better on Tuesday and Thursdays the most, Nathan has been trying to get them to school on Friday though. The fact he is able to get them to learn anything at school is a blessing with how easily distracted and uninterested they can become. But on those two days especially they enjoy studying. Nathan even gets the pleasure to teach them from time to time at school, as it was obvious that they were more willing to learn from him than if it was their teacher Ms Bowden; but that was not to say they didn't enjoy learning with her. Nathan walked into the boys' room and grabbed a book from a shelf as he prepared to read them a story before sleep. \n\n``Hey you two, ready for your bedtime story?'' Nathan asked with a sweet smile, Elijah looked up with an excited expression, Tobias looked up too but his unreadable face was staying. They both got in their bed, under the sheets and had an arm around the other's neck for comfort. Nathan grabbed a chair in their room and sat down on it with the book in hand. Nathan began to read; it was the same story the boys loved. Most nights he reads this book, `Meg and Mog', to them as they never ever got tired of listening to it; especially when Nathan does the voices. Meg and Mog was a short picture-oriented story about a witch, a black cat and a owl called `Owl' as they went on in their life. Making a brew, being in a castle and making breakfast. Elijah would giggle as Nathan did the voices and told the story, Tobias would occasionally smile while his eyes looked rested and calm. \n\nFelix and Eliza bathed at a good time, the water was warm enough for them while been cooler than normal. They both washed themselves and chatted about the game they were hooked on, discussing on what to do next, how to react to a certain bad character and the funny moment that just happened. They washed themselves extra fast tonight so they could get dressed and get back to it. Once dried and dressed they walked together chatting and stopped at the twin's room, hearing Nathan doing weird voices to them. Felix and Eliza looked in the room and saw Nathan on a chair before the twins reading from a book, Elijah especially looked happy while Tobias was gradually looking happy. Eliza had never seen a bedtime story before, Felix stood in silence as he watched feeling a sense of sadness; he watched and heard it before but never had it happen to him. Felix snapped out of his sadness as he quickly decided that it doesn't matter, he was too old for it, oh well. As he went to leave Eliza stayed at the door listening in, she began to laugh at Nathan's silly voices, getting the attention of him. As Nathan stopped and faced her, she suddenly felt a sense of she shouldn't be here. As they started to leave, Nathan called out to her to stop and began to reassure her.\n\n``Hey, Eliza it's ok. Are you alright, darling''? Nathan called out; Eliza had almost left entirely as Felix stood at the end of the corridor waiting for her. She poked her head back in the twin's room and looked at them in uncertainty. ``I was just reading the boys a bedtime story. Would you like to join, or perhaps I can read you one later before bed?'' Asked Nathan, Elijah stuck his hand out under the sheets and waved erratically at Eliza who smiled back.\n\n``That sounds nice. What is it?'' Eliza said feeling shy,\n\n``A bedtime story is just me reading you a story from a book, I read this one to the twins `every night'. Don't I boys?'' Nathan said with a smirk, Elijah giggled as a response while Tobias nodded. ``Later on, I will get a chair next to your bed and read to you. Is that something you would like?'' Eliza nodded with a toothy grin. Felix breathed deeply as he stood at the end of the corridor looking away, he turned back to face Eliza and felt this nagging urge to tell her to hurry up. Eliza kept talking to Nathan and it was getting on his nerves. ``Hey, Felix?'' Nathan called out, \n\n``What?'' Felix replied sounding deeply uninterested.\n\n``Would you like to join Eliza and I later on for a bedtime story?''\n\n``I'm too old for that.'' Felix said with a half-snapped tone, Eliza turned and looked at him with begging eyes; Felix sighed as he felt like he had to relent. ``Fine.'' Felix answered once more getting Eliza happy once more, ``Can we go back to the xbox now?'' Felix said impatiently at Eliza, who nodded happily as she waved at Nathan and the twins once again. Nathan resumed the story once they both left, thankfully the twins weren't unhappy at all for the delay. Eliza and Felix resumed their game and instantly became hooked once again. Once Nathan was finished reading the book, he kissed both Elijah and Tobias on the forehead; their eyes closing and ready to fall asleep. He put his chair back, turned off the lights and closed the door as he left. He held onto the book still, he hoped to himself that this is something Eliza wanted him to read. He didn't even know if she or Felix have ever been read to before bed; but he guessed not, leaving a small pit of sadness inside him. He turned the corner and saw both of them at the lounge still playing. Nathan looked at the time and felt he had to give them more time before getting them to bed. He sat down next to them, both of them acknowledged him but were more focused on playing. \n\n``So, I take it you two love this game?'' Nathan asked,\n\n``It's so good, but the loading times are awful.'' Felix replied,\n\n``Ah that's no good.'' Nathan said, it was small talk but it wasn't awkward for any of them. ``I'm letting you two play this for a little while longer. Afterwards I'll give you two a bedtime story.''\n\n``I honestly don't think I'll enjoy it, I'm too old. I only said yes because of Eliza.'' Felix admitted.\n\n``That's alright, Felix. Well we'll see how it goes in about... 20 minutes, does that sound alright?''\n\n``Yeah sure.'' \n\n``I look forward to it! -What exactly is a bedtime story-?'' Asked Eliza and Mary,\n\n``It's simply just a story being read to you, to help you sleep. I got the book I was reading to the twins just now, but I got an idea for another book to read if you really don't want it, Felix.'' \n\n``Noo, read it.'' Eliza said with a pout,\n\n``I will, Eliza. Don't worry.'' Nathan said with a smile, ``I just got an idea for afterwards. Something I did for the boys on the very, very, very rare case that they didn't want me to read them this book.''\n\n``Wait, they get you to read the same book every night?'' Said Felix looking a bit puzzled.\n\n``Almost every night. They really love this book, and my guess they love it because they know it so well, they like things that are familiar.'' \n\n``Don't you get tired of it?'' \n\n``Well... maybe a bit. That's why I do the voices, helps me keep doing it.'' Nathan said with a smile, ``I'll be quiet now as I watch, ok?''\n\n``Sounds good.'' Felix said as he turned back to the TV. Nathan watched as he tried to figure out what was going on, but he only understood some of the plot; in the end he gave up and just watched. When 20 minutes had passed, Nathan told them it was time to save and hop off. Felix and Eliza complied with Nathan's request and then got ready to go to bed.\n\n``Now which room am I going to read in? I assume you two want to be together.'' Nathan asked,\n\n``My room I guess.'' Felix said looking at Eliza, he shrugged and she nodded back. ``Do you want to sleep with me?'' Felix asked towards Eliza. She paused for a moment with shame flushing across her face, she felt awful. ``It's ok, Eliza. Geeze. Don't be embarrassed.''\n\n``But y-you wanted to sleep a-alone.'' She replied back with a stammer,\n\n``I think it's a great idea, for now. I get the feeling that Felix would like to sleep alone, but he too also feels safer with you. Isn't that right?'' Rationalized Nathan, Felix looked up at him, back to Eliza and nodded.\n\n``Basically.''\n\n``If you wet Felix's bed tonight, perhaps we'll be needing something extra to prevent that. Like some Pull Ups.'' \n\n``What's a Pull Ups?'' \n\n``A Pull Ups is like a nappy, er, diaper.'' Nathan corrected himself, knowing that these two wouldn't know what a nappy is. Eliza looked away feeling worse by the second. ``It will help you out in the long run, Eliza. You won't be wetting the bed if you got that on.''\n\n``I feel bad.'' Eliza said as she quivered, Nathan crouched down to her level and spread his arms out to offer a hug. Eliza slowly came in for a hug and Nathan rubbed her back in reassurance.\n\n``It's ok, Eliza. This will pass, someday you won't need them. But this won't happen if you don't wet Felix's bed tonight. If all you need is the security of your big brother then you won't need them.'' Nathan said, his voice and words were incredibly reassuring to Eliza.\n\n``Ok.'' Eliza replied, she let go of Nathan and smiled faintly as she clutched Mary close. \n\n``Now go brush your teeth and go to the toilet you two.'' Nathan said as he stood up, Felix and Eliza went and brushed their teeth and waited in Felix's room. Nathan came into their room holding a chair and the book he read to the twins, ``Gidday you two. I'm going to be sitting about here, so hop in bed you two.'' Nathan said as he placed the chair a bit away from the bed, he turned on the fan so they wouldn't get too hot in bed. Eliza and Felix got into bed and Nathan started reading. As Nathan read Eliza smiled widely, Felix listened as much as he could, even though he wasn't too into it. When Nathan finished the book, Felix felt relief that it was over. It wasn't bad it was just not something he wanted; it didn't help that he still feels sad that he never had this until now. \n\n``Again!'' Eliza said with a laugh, Nathan shook his head smiling back.\n\n``Not you too.'' Nathan laughed. ``But I got another book to read and I'm going to need your help you two.'' Felix rested his head on an arm as he laid on his side, he looked over Nathan and saw no other book.\n\n``Where's the other book?'' Felix asked, he sighed to himself. \n\n``I don't see no other book too.'' Eliza added. Nathan put the book he held on the ground and then put his hands together like he was going to pray.\n\n``This is a special book that I read to the twins every so often, it's the book of wishes and dreams.'' Nathan opened his hands and held them out as if they were a book, Eliza and Felix looked puzzled at Nathan.\n\n``This is kinda,''\n\n``Silly.'' Felix and Eliza said after another.\n\n``Aw, there's nothing wrong with playing with the make believe. Now,'' Nathan prepared to start reading the imaginary book. ``In a house near a beach lived a little monkey, a roo, two twins and their parents. It was a day that everyone was looking forward to,'' Nathan then looked at Eliza and Felix, ``Where are we going?'' Eliza pondered for a moment with Felix uninterested to play along.\n\n``The beach.'' Eliza finally said,\n\n``What a great idea.'' Nathan replied, ``We all were going to the beach, we got our swin suits, some spades and buckets to make sand castles and to collect shells.''\n\n``I want to make sand castles.'' Eliza said with eager eyes.\n\n``We get to the beach after a short walk and we find a nice spot just for us.''\n\n``And we make sand castles!''\n\n``Exactly.'' Nathan smiled back, Eliza giggles; Felix could feel Eliza's tail move with excitement. ``We make a bunch of sand castles, we start with one, then make another and another. But, what's this? We found a treasure chest hidden in the sand.'' Nathan looked puzzled as he read from his hands, Felix looked at him with slight interest now. ``We then decide who opens it first, who opens it?''\n\n``Eliza.'' Felix said, Eliza looked at him and back looking all sorts happy.\n\n``Eliza tries to open the chest, but she can't do it by herself.'' \n\n``Felix helps.'' Eliza added, \n\n``With the help of her big brother, Eliza opens the chest. What do you find inside the chest?''\n\n``Gold,'' \n\n``Money is always nice.'' \n\n``What about a treasure map?'' Felix added, he was slowly getting interested. ``It's like a pirates chest right?''\n\n``You are absolutely correct, Felix. We find a map, it's a bit too dirty for me to read. Your small young eyes would do a better job.'' Nathan, pretended to grab a piece of paper from the book and handed it over to Eliza. She looks at it and then looks at Felix,\n\n``I can't read.''\n\n``I can, a little bit I mean.'' Felix pretended to take the paper and then for a moment blanked out, was he seriously going to read a imaginary piece of paper.\n\n``What does it say?'' Eliza said rolling over to look at him, Felix hesitated and then reached out to give it to Nathan. ``I don't know, I can't read it.'' He said trying to avoid doing anything. Nathan grabbed it and then after looking at the imaginary piece of paper. \n\n``Oh no wonder we can't read it, it's dirty and a little soggy, ew.'' Nathan then proceeded to shake the imaginary paper about causing Eliza to laugh at his expressions, Felix couldn't help but smirk. ``Dirty, yucky, piece of paper.'' Nathan added, then he pulled out a magnifying glass from his pajama pocket, something neither Eliza or Felix expected.\n\n``Whoa you have one of those?'' Felix asked,\n\n``What is it?'' Eliza added.\n\n``It's a magnifying glass, good to see small things that otherwise would be too hard to see. Now, let's see about this treasure map.'' Nathan paused and then nodded at it with an exaggerated thinking expression. ``I see I see; the treasure map is telling us of another treasure chest. The one we found is the smaller chest, this other chest must be bigger and better.'' He passed the magnifying glass to Felix and the treasure map to Eliza, ``Hold the map still for Felix to read the instructions of where to find it.'' Felix held the magnifying glass and looked through it with wonder, \n\n``Your face looks so weird in this.'' Felix said with a laugh.\n\n``Hey now...'' Nathan said trying to hold some laughter back, ``Focus on the map.''\n\n``Alright, alright. It says look for a big rock.'' Felix said offhandedly, he didn't know what he was saying. \n\n``Big rock? It's near our sand castle.'' Eliza gasped.\n\n``We found the location of the treasure, I say to all of us `get your spades guys, we are going digging!'.'' Nathan said with a fake pirate voice, Eliza laughed with Felix shaking his head amused. ``We walk to the big rock nearby and we start digging. We dig, and dig, and dig, and dig until finally, we hit something under the sand.'' Nathan pretends to turn a page, ``Oh my god this chest is massive!'' Nathan said with a shocked tone and expression, Eliza laughed so loud that it hurt Felix's ears.\n\n``Big chest!'' Eliza laughed while failing to breathe,\n\n``How big is this chest anyway?'' Felix asked, Nathan put the fake book down and then stretched his arms out as wide as possible. \n\n``This big! Wait, even bigger I can't stretch my arms out any further!'' Nathan waved his arms as he tried to stretch them out as far as possible, he picked up the imaginary book again. ``So, we continue to dig it out. Then the massive, hard task of getting it out of the sand. We're gonna need all of us to pull it out.''\n\n``But we can't? If it's that big we won't be able to get it out of the sand.'' Felix added, Nathan clicked his fingers and exclaimed. \n\n``You're right. You're absolutely right, so we need extra help.''\n\n``We need to get one of those big thingys that dig things!''\n\n``Now that would be an excavator. How do we get the excavator?''\n\n``We steal it!'' Eliza laughed, \n\n``Noooooooooo.'' Nathan said shaking his head, Eliza laughed even more. ``We can't do that.''\n\n``Get the money from the chest, spending it on the excavator and use it.'' Answered Felix.''\n\n``Now that's a good idea. We get the money and get one excavator.'' As Nathan finished Eliza pouted, ``Don't worry there is still gold left in the chest. Now, who drives the excavator?''\n\n``Probably you,'' \n\n``No! Rita! She drives a truck!''\n\n``Hm, you're right. Rita would be the right option, so. Rita gets the excavator and digs out the chest. We finally got it!'' Nathan said looking excited and accomplished, so much that Eliza and Felix felt and shared it. ``The chest is huge, my god it's big. I think we all can open it if we work together. So, we all put our hands into position and try to lift the lid up.'' Nathan paused so he could make struggling noises and even going far to re-enact of opening it up. ``We got it! The lid flies open, what's inside?'' Nathan looks at Eliza and Felix.\n\n``So much gold.'' Eliza said with a big smile,\n\n``And jewels. There has to be diamonds and stuff inside as well.'' Felix added.\n\n``I wanna jump in it!''\n\n``You want to swim in the gold and jewels?'' Nathan asked?\n\n``Yeah!'' \n\n``Oh, that would be hard, but you get in the chest and move about it. But, with all this gold and jewels we have one finally thing to ask ourselves. What do we do with it?''\n\n``Buy the new consoles.'' Felix said with a eager smile, Eliza nodded.\n\n``We get a palace!''\n\n``With a pool,'' \n\n``Yeah! We get all the good games too.'' Eliza and Felix said looking at each other, Nathan felt happy inside seeing both of them enjoying this `book'. Nathan pulled the book to a close as he let them go on about all the things they wanted to do with the money.\n\n``And with that all said, we have reached the end of this chapter.'' Nathan said as he closed the book by putting his hands together. ``We live happily ever after for more adventures in the future.'' Nathan sighed smiling at Eliza and Felix.\n\n``It's over?'' Eliza asked.\n\n``No, it's not over, Eliza. The chapter is. Next time we do this we'll have a new adventure.''\n\n``I want more gold.'' Eliza said as she squeezed Mary close.\n\n``And we'll get more gold.'' Nathan paused as he leaned back into his chair, ``I hope you two enjoyed this.''\n\n``It was better than I expected.'' Felix admitted, ``It's just a silly concept but I liked it.''\n\n``I loved it.'' Eliza said as she yawned.\n\n``That's good you two. I hope you two have a good sleep.'' Nathan stood up and moved the chair up against a wall away from them, he moved over and bent down before Eliza. ``Would you like a goodnight kiss?'' \n\n``Yes.'' Nathan moved to kiss Eliza on the forehead but Eliza moved her head up, instinctually thinking she had to be kissed on the lips. Nathan stopped short and then moved up more to kiss her forehead.\n\n``What about you, Felix?''\n\n``No thanks.'' \n\n``Alright, sleep well you two. And remember, Eliza. If you have a bad dream or are afraid in the dark. Remember that Felix is there and he will protect you. Goodnight you two.'' Nathan said with a smile, Eliza nodded softly back. The door was closed and all was dark and quiet, Eliza yawned and closed her eyes to sleep. As Felix and Eliza slept nothing bad happened, Eliza didn't wet Felix's bed and neither had a terrifying nightmare; all was actually well.\n\n=========\n\nRoughly a decade and a half in the future, Eliza and Felix woke up in their bed in their shared house. It was time to get ready for work, for the both of them. Felix made coffee and Eliza made breakfast. Felix stood tall above Eliza who smiled up at him with his earrings dangling. \n\n``How'd you sleep?'' Felix asked as he grabbed the coffee pot,\n\n``I slept good. I look forward for soccer practice.'' Eliza replied excitedly, ``What about you?''\n\n``I slept fine.'' Felix paused for a moment, ``I had a dream of when Nathan read to us, from the imaginary book.''\n\n``Oh, I loved that book.''\n\n``So, do I. I hope he and Rita are doing alright.''\n\n``You can just call them you know?'' \n\n``I know. I'm just bad at keeping contacted, that said I think they might be coming around next week for Christmas.'' Felix poured a coffee for Eliza and then himself.\n\n``I look forward to it.'' Eliza said as he grabbed his cup. Elijah and Tobias walked into the kitchen dressed up in grocery bagger uniforms, grabbing a snack bar each before sitting down at the table.\n\n``Hey Elijah, Tobias.'' Felix said as he blew on the surface of his coffee cup.\n\n``Hey.'' They both said in unison, Elijah smiled brightly back with Tobias looking rested and calm. They ate together in unison, even taking turns at feeding the other with each of the bars; they still do the same things they did when they were little. Felix and Eliza sat down on the lounge of their living room to watch TV while they still had time, Eliza resting his head against Felix sighing as he continued to wake up. \n\n``Are you doing alright, Eliza?'' Felix asked as he wrapped an arm around him.\n\n``Yeah I am. I too had a dream with the imaginary book Nathan read us. Just thinking about that makes me feel happy. I know it's only been a couple of weeks since moving out but I really miss them.''\n\n``I know the feeling.'' Felix looked over his shoulder and saw the twins taking turns of licking the fur on the side of their faces, a form of weird grooming the two does; he was thankful they aren't one of the skin or scaled creatures because it would only make it creepy and disgusting. ``Why do you two do that?'' Felix called out to them.\n\n``Because we like to, clearly.'' Tobias replied with a hint of sass.\n\n``I'm just glad no one else sees you two do that in public.'' Felix paused as he drew a blank in his mind. ``Wait, I only just thought to ask. Does anyone know that you two are... together?'' \n\n``Yeah.'' Tobias replied. The lack of follow up made both Eliza and Felix awkward,\n\n``...Really?'' Felix replied, ``Can you elaborate on that?'' Tobias stopped grooming Elijah and turned to Eliza and Felix.\n\n``Mum got us the job; Mrs Russel knows about us. She doesn't care though so long as we do our job. And we do; she likes us for that.'' \n\n``Mr Wyld at the cafe we go to also knows.'' Elijah added, ``I think a lot of people know. They don't care.''\n\n``...Alright.'' Felix struggled to believe what he was hearing, do the townsfolk actually not care or weirded out? They are literally brothers and not everyone is open minded. ``Do you two like, kiss each other in public? I don't know what you two do in public.''\n\n``Why does that matter?'' Elijah replied with a hint of distress.\n\n``Because we're brothers.'' Tobias said to Elijah, he looked at Felix once again. ``We hug, sometimes kiss. We mostly hug and rest on each other. That's all.'' \n\n``I don't get it, every time the topic comes up, I don't get why it's such a big deal or why it's weird.'' Elijah said with some grief. ``Like Mr Austin. He gives us hell each time he comes by, spouting lines from a book I don't even know what it's about; whatever it is it isn't a nice book.''\n\n``Well Dave is a pastor; their religion is all rigid and crap. Of course, he doesn't like you two. Just ignore the prick.'' Felix replied, ``I'm just glad the country has gotten same-sex marriage a thing, people might just assume you two are a normal couple. If it was like a couple of decades ago you guys wouldn't have much luck.'' He took a sip from his coffee and felt awful for bringing up the topic. ``I'm sorry I brought this up, you two. I just am surprised you two can get away with it.''\n\n``It's fine, I understand why you would be worried. We just want to do what makes us happy, I remember Dad giving us a long talk one day that went on for like, an hour.'' Tobias said grabbing one of Elijah's hand and squeezing it.\n\n``I remember that. He was like `beware of showing affecting in public,' and I was like `but why?'. He gave the same sort of answer other people do and, I just hear it and just, I just don't get it.'' Elijah sighed.\n\n``Well at least we can every now and then.'' Tobias said as he and Elijah embraced each other. They rubbed all over each other's back; Tobias sniffing Elijah deeply and exhaling with pleasure. ``You smell nice.'' Tobias said offhandedly, Elijah giggled back. ``By the way, Felix. Danny will be coming over and staying a couple of nights with us.'' \n\n``Duly noted, Tobias.'' Felix replied. Both Elijah and Tobias squeezed each other tightly once more before turning to the clock. \n\n``We need to go now.''\n\n``Hopefully the bus isn't too early.'' Felix said as he waved at them goodbye.\n\n``Thank you, good bye.'' Elijah said as he came over to Felix and Eliza. He hugged them both, who were still sitting on the lounge. He returned to Tobias, held his hand and breathing together they walked out the door. \n\n``Bye you two.'' Eliza said as they left, he turned to Felix and smiled. Felix looked back at Eliza and they shared a kiss. ``Love you.'' Eliza said with a smile, ``and I hope you have a good day today.'' \n\n``Love you too, Eliza. And same to you.'' Felix smiled back at Eliza, he hugged him tight before getting up to get dressed for work.\n\n", "writing_bbcode_parsed": "Nathan sat on the edge of his bed and opened the folder the adoption agency gave him. He remembers have a very quick look when he peeked into it without Rita observing. A dire grim feeling urged him to make sure before he opens his mouth about ANYTHING. This time Rita sat next to him as he opened it up, who knew he peeked at it but didn't see any harm in him doing so. But this time they had to read through all the files together. One of the documents was detailing where Felix came from, what family he was tied to by birth. His father was Angus Foster and his mother was Deidre Clark, whom neither wanted the other's surname, or Felix by the fact it seems. The document detailed how Deidre reported of domestic abuse and child protection came and retrieved Felix. Angus was then jailed for 4 years of repetitive physical and verbal abuse to Deidre and Felix, with Deidre gave up Felix to adoption due to parental pressure to start a new life. There were three pictures, one of each of them. Angus looked like a drunk and violent offender while Deidre had this look of distain and disconnect, she also looked far younger than Angus. The picture, which both Nathan and Rita assumed was the `best' picture they could get, was of Felix (whose age was 3) who looked absolutely miserable with bruises across his face.

``Fucking hell.'' Rita said rubbing her eyes with a silent and emotional Nathan wrapped an arm around her. He knew that this was only the beginning of this file of evidence, this wasn't even the bit he sneaked a peek at. ``Look how miserable the boy looks. Look at that smug drunken idiot.'' Rita said getting agitated.

``That could have been me if I didn't change.''

``Well, I'm bloody glad you did!''

``So am I.'' Nathan kept looking at Felix's picture, the young innocent eyes looking tarnished in fear.

Nathan folded the document back into the file and grabbed another one. A document with the first foster family Felix moved to. A Mr and Mrs Darling in a few states over in America, Robert and Olivia were their names. The document was not so much about Felix being put into their foster care but being taken out of it, as after 3 years child protection services were called in by a neighbour whose suspicion of detrimental and cruel parenting was verified. Robert and Olivia went to court and managed to not get into serious trouble but paid a fine and given a harsh warning. The details of what they did to Felix was as such, they berated him, made him eat petfood, they did not care for him when he got a scratch and always telling him ``Do it yourself, you got yourself into this mess you take care of it yourself.'' They didn't care about his health and their methods of discipline was depriving Felix of everything until he said sorry. Then some details were made even more clear to Nathan and Rita, Mr and Mrs Darling had 2 other kids. Details of the parents telling Felix that he ``isn't their little treasures'' and ``Is only here because they felt sorry for him.'' This made Nathan very mad. Then a small but important detail was uncovered, that Felix got aggressive with his siblings frequently, fighting so much and violently which got him into more trouble and started the suspicion of the neighbours. There were 2 pictures this time, one showing both Mr and Mrs Darling and the other one of Felix who was grubby and moody looking. There was some crayon on the bottom of the document that read ``Fucking Darling'' very crudely but at the very least readable.

``Fucking Mr and Mrs Darling? Hah! They were anything but `darling'. Oohh the things I would yell at them for.'' Rita grumbled.

``Why on earth would they fucking adopt him? If they had no intent to care, I don't understand their logic? I swear I've gone to school with someone much like them, only pretending to care until you are alone with them.''  Nathan sounding worn out and frustrated.

``Let's find one of Eliza, I want to know where she came from.'' Rita said, grabbing the folder after Nathan put the document back in.

After searching for a short while she had found the origin of Eliza. A document that explained of an unknown child being found at a gas station, no parents or any footage of her arriving with someone else. She was naked, muddy, dirty and in a state of paralytic stillness when she was found. Huddled up between a few gas containers with her tail coiled up between her legs and clinging to a teddy bear she was found by a cps worker who was off duty. She remained to not move wordless as the cps worker tried to help them. Not answering questions of `who she is, where did you come from, who are your parents?'.  They eventually took her to safety. The document showed a picture of a towelled Eliza with a lifeless stare sitting on a chair without her teddy. Nathan and Rita felt only sadness for the girl.

``They didn't even give back her teddy for the photo.''

``Besides the point, Nathan. That girl must have run far away from someone awful.''

``That is unquestionable.'' Nathan sighed resting his head against his wife's. The document continued with the cps worker making a statement.

- ``Whoever this child is, wherever they've come from, they are frightened and alone. She flinched at every movement I made to her; it took a long time to convince her that I'm a good person trying to help her. That I was going to take her to safety. When I got her to the station the first thing I did was to get her washed and clean; she was afraid of the water at first. She did show signs of liking to be clean, but in her broken words she had said to me `this is never happened before'. We fed her as much good food as we possible had available, and she barely ate; especially when she was without her teddy. She didn't say a word and gave a thousand-yard stare. We had to take her bear away because it was dirty and desperately needed repairs. When it was returned, she came back to life but even after she still never answered the questions I asked.

I'm writing this to state that I have strong suspicions of her being heavily neglected and potentially of having been abused, but I don't have any proof that. I just know that she flinched at every man at the station and cried a lot.'' -

Rita read out the statement as Nathan listened, her voice breaking while Nathan cried silently.

``You alright, hun?'' Rita asked as she put the document back in the folder.

``Of course not. I'm broken just reading all this.''

``We can stop and get back to this later if you need to.''

``I wouldn't be able to stomach going back to this, I want to get this over and done. Would you mind finding another document?'' Nathan cleared his throat and his mouth quivered as he tried to get under control. Rita sighed and grabbed the next document she found.

The document was yet another foster care home for Felix, and this one was more dreadful than the last. It detailed of the foster care parents being called Mr and Mrs Wood that trhe document already stated with certainty that `Felix was removed at post haste when Mr and Mrs Wood was caught with child pornography material involving Felix and their own kids (blank) and (blank). Felix was in their care for just under 3 years. Authorities tracked Mr and Mrs Wood via suspicious contacts they were involved with as well as being monitored online selling Image packs and video packs of their kids for $150 in total for other paedophiles to buy.' When Rita read that out, she was breathless and upset; growling she stomped her foot down on the ground.

``Bastards!'' She growled, Nathan rubbing her shoulders to calm her down. She looked at Rita and with a sigh and a nod she continued to read out the details. Felix when taken away from Mr and Mrs Wood should great disdain and hatred to the cps who `keep putting me in crappier homes, what the fuck is wrong with you fucks'? The document states that Mr and Mrs Woods are imprisoned for an unknown amount of time with their own kids being taken in by other family members while Felix was returned back to the adoption clinic at his own request. The only picture was of Felix who was looking far messed up and aggressive looking than normal. The document was concluded with one more document that was paperclipped together.

``That was the one that I had a peek at.'' Nathan admitted, he grabbed this one and decided he was the one to read out this one; something Rita appreciated.

The document read out as follows,

- ``Felix and Eliza were put out to adoption by an otter named Noah and an elephant named Hanna who decided that it was time to send off the two to receive two more children to look after. Upon retrieving Felix (11) and Eliza (7) both were broken kids with signs of sexual abuse in the past. Upon evaluating the files that we have, Felix has been through some rough times, but he has not been improved whatsoever under Noah's care. The very fact that Noah and Hanna like to recycle kids does not sit well with me when clearly these kids aren't any better but seemingly worse. Both Felix and Eliza show great contempt for Noah and Hanna with Felix resenting Noah more while Eliza showing great fear and discomfort at the very mention of Hanna or any elephant. We tried separating the two from each other but it was met with great aggression and violence from Felix who vocally yelled `I won't let you take her!'. We were advised that the union between the two kids is to be kept. This was done to avoid further conflict and to keep the peace and integrity of our clinic. Our suspicion grows more and more about Noah but we can't get any proof with neither of the kids willing to talk about their experience. Noah has been nothing but friendly, cooperative and a great client of our clinic so there's nothing we can really do. There were 2 other kids that were put out to adoption from Noah's care aside from Felix and Eliza, but they've already been put into other homes. We wait for the perfect home for Felix and Eliza, if they are to be taken with each other. Lord knows we will be in so much shit if only one gets taken.'' -

At the bottom of the long statement was a picture of Eliza and Felix who sat next to each other on a small lounge firmly holding hands with dead looks on their faces. The document continued on about Noah and Hanna as being excellent foster carers, amazing people and blah blah blah that went on like a propaganda speech by another cps worker. Something that both Nathan and Rita growled in disgust.

``There's someone working with them, there has to be! Or are they bloody stupid?'' Rita scoffed.

``It sure sounds like it. I'll admit I only read the first few lines, and I'm just disgusted.'' Nathan said as he put the document back in the folder. At that point it was then they discovered that was it, that was all in the folder. A bleak, depressing and horrible history of the two foster kids. ``Felix Foster. That is perhaps one of the meanest underlying surnames I've ever heard, more so than having an awful time at the `Darling' residence.''

``Surely it has to be pure coincidence, even if it's downright rude and cruel.'' Rita said getting up and moving to her side of the bed. Nathan put the folder in one of the bedside draws and laid down in the bed covering, rubbing his eyes in a state of overwhelmed anger and heartache empathy. Rita did the very same thing and sniffed as she sunk into the bed more and more.

``My heart, it's just so broken for them.''

``Those poor kids.''  Nathan and Rita said, Nathan looked at the bedside clock and sighed when he realized the time.

``Well, I'm going to be working off steam tomorrow.'' Nathan sighed taking off his glasses, putting them on the bedside table, sunk into the bed more and turning to face Rita. Rita rolled over and met Nathan face to face, they held hands under the sheets as a show of giving each other strength and to show love. They gave their goodnight wishes and turned off the lights to sleep.

When it came to morning it was Rita's turn to sleep in as Nathan woke up, he yawned, rubbed his eyes and put his glasses on. He left the room and headed down to wake up the twins still in his pajamas, as he had to wake them up, dress them and get their breakfast ready. He opened their door and found them as they should be, one embracing the other as they slept. Each day it would be different between the twins as every other day it would be reverse. Today it was Tobias who embraced Elijah from behind as they slept, tomorrow it was guaranteed for Elijah to do it instead. He never quite understood how the twins always end up in this position, surely, they have to move around and not get bed sores? But it wasn't important, Nathan and Rita loved seeing the twins follow their cute pattern.

``Elijah, Tobias, it's time to wake up you two.'' Nathan said in a hushed tone with a jingle, he walked over to the bed and knelt down before Elijah. Nathan repeated himself and rubbed Elijah's hair, getting the reaction he was hoping. Elijah opened his eyes and yawned, squirming a little as he slowly woke up. Elijah's movement awoke Tobias as well who moaned softly as he buried his face closer into Elijah's back shoulder. Nathan smiled more as it was undeniably adorable and sweet, waking them up felt like the worst thing he has to do. But the boys need their routine, they have to wake up. ``Come on Tobias, wake up. You two need to get dressed and get some tucker in your bellies.'' Nathan moved over and kissed Elijah on the forehead and then stretched over to Tobias, Tobias moaned once more as he moved his head away from Elijah and slowly opened his eyes. Nathan kissed Tobias on the forehead and returned to a comfortable kneeling down position. Nathan rubbed Tobias's head as he smiled to his son.

``Morning.''

``Mmmmmorrrrning.'' Tobias and Elijah said after another. Tobias blinked a lot as he slowly let go of Elijah and sat up moving the sheets with him. Elijah helped his brother and pushed the sheets off and slowly stuck his legs out of bed. Elijah's wore his light blue pajamas sat on the edge of the bed with his legs meeting with the ground. Tobias moved to his side and copied what his brother had done, he too also wore the same pajamas. Nathan stood up and went to their wardrobe and got their overalls and their shirts.

``Which shirt do you two want today?'' Nathan asked as he looked through the wardrobe.

``The snake one.'' Tobias replied with Elijah mhm'd along. Nathan grabbed the two green shirts with a purple snake on the chest. Nathan had all their clothes and placed them on the end of the bed. The twins stood up and moved to Nathan. ``So, what did you two dream about?'' Nathan asked as she started to strip them to change into their clothes.

``I dreamt of living in a house with Elijah, Eliza and Felix.'' Tobias said plainly,

``I dreamt of a super hero who was Felix in disguise!'' Elijah added. ``We lived together?'' Elijah said amazed looking at Tobias as Nathan removed Elijah's pajamas.

``Yeah. We shared a bed at times, but we slept together the most.''

``That's cool! I want to sleep in a bed all together!'' Elijah said excited like as Nathan removed Tobias's pajamas.

``Ohh really now? That sounds like you guys had fun. What did you 4 get up to in that house?''

``I don't recall, I think we had jobs or something.'' Tobias said as Nathan helped him put on his overalls.

``Fun.'' Nathan said in a humorous tone causing Elijah to laugh. ``So, you dreamt of Felix as a superhero?'' Nathan said as he looked at Elijah.

``Yeah! Saved me and Tobias from a baddie.'' Nathan smiled warmly as he helped put Elijah's overalls on.

``You two really love your Felix, don't you? What about Eliza?''

``I dreamed of her; I like her.'' Tobias added with Elijah now looking sad.

``I didn't dream of her.''

``Hey now it's ok. I know you love your new sister too.'' Nathan said as he paused as he could sense that Elijah was going to cry. Elijah looked down as his tail drooped between his legs, Nathan rested his hands on Elijah's shoulders and comfortingly rubbed them. ``I get a feeling that both Felix and Eliza love you two very much and are very happy to be here. And I'm sure they know you two love them both.'' Nathan sincere and affirming words put the smile back on Elijah who started to wag his tail. ``Now let's get your shirts on and have breakfast.'' With that little problem solved, Nathan helped the boys put their matching t-shirts on. When it was done Nathan stood up stretching his back and walked to the kitchen with the twins following holding hands.

Nathan grabbed their bowls, cutlery, the weet-bix the boys love, a milk carton and then a small container of sugar. He placed them all on the table making sure nothing was going to fall off or make a mess. He made their breakfast and put the bowls in front of the twins with a sigh of relief.

``Alright tuck in you two. I'll be back in a little bit, and try to eat cleanly.'' With that said Nathan left his boys to eat with and together at the table. Nathan left and headed back to the bedroom to get changed. Rita sat up in bed with the TV on and laid back as she woke up.

``Morning hun.'' She said with a sleepy smile.

``Gidday love. Twins are dressed, got their breaky. They also told me they dreamt of Felix and Eliza.''

``Oh really?'' Rita said amazed.

``Yes really. Tobias dreamt of them living together in a house, sharing a bed. Elijah dreamt of Felix as a super hero saving him.''

``Aw that's sweet.'' Rita smiled widely.

``Elijah is a bit sad he didn't dream of Eliza though, but I reassured him that she knows he likes her a lot. Anyway, I need a shower and get changed.''

``Alright hun.'' Nathan walked over to Rita and kissed her on the lips before grabbing some clothes and stepping into the ensuite to have a shower. When Nathan was done showering, he dressed himself in smart and professional clothing before heading back to the twins in the dining room.

``How are you two doing?'' Nathan asked as he put on his tie, something he actually hated. The twins looked up with some food in their mouths but didn't say a word, Nathan nodded to them. ``Well, when you two are done we will be get going to kindergarten. Are you two excited for kindergarten?'' The twins nodded back with Elijah looking excited with Tobias unreadable in his expression. Nathan finished putting his tie on, checked his watch and felt like he had to check on the other two to see if everything is alright. Eliza didn't come to Nathan and Rita last night, which was rather fortunate with them reading over their files. But Nathan wanted to know if she slept well or had a nightmare, in case he needs to clean her sheets and mattress again. Nathan walked down the corridor and as he got close to their rooms, he softened his footsteps so he wouldn't wake them up with thumping shoes. Eliza's door was opened as Nathan got to it, as he peered in, he noticed she wasn't there and the sheets looked wet from where he was standing. Nathan sighed in sympathy and immediately hoped she was in Felix's room. He opened the door slightly and to his relief Eliza was with Felix in his bed, her wet clothes on the floor rather in the bed. Nathan closed the door and turned his attention to sorting out Eliza's bed and her sheets, they'd have to be put in the wash again and he would have to spray the bed to remove any odours. Nathan stripped her bed and took it all to the washing machine, loaded it up and started it. He sprayed the bed with lavender spray and got a towel to pat the bed to make sure it was drier. Once that was all done, he washed his hands and went to sit at the dining room table for breakfast. Nathan ate his breakfast as he watched his twins mumble and laugh as they talked. They were talking in their `special language', something no one could understand. As much as Nathan wanted to understand and join in, he knew that would just spoil it. Neither of the twins wanted to share, perhaps because they didn't know how to.

Felix and Eliza woke up with tons of yawning and stretching in Felix's room. Throwing the hot blankets off of them. When their bodies collided with each other the shook, not quite expecting the sudden sensation.

``Sorry.'' Felix said with a tired look. Eliza looked at him with a shuddered smile and hopped off of the bed. Felix slid his legs off the bed and slowly stood up as he felt hollow inside.

``It's ookie.'' Eliza replied and surveyed Felix's room. They both could feel their stomachs aching for food. Felix opened his door, looked at Eliza and gestured his head as if to say `come on, follow me'. Both groggily left his room and walked down the corridor to where they could hear voices chatting; probably at the dining table they both figured. As they turned the corner they saw Nathan sitting at the table eating breakfast dreamingly staring at the twins with an adored smile to boot. Nathan saw them in the corner of his eye and turned at them.

``Good morning you too.'' Nathan said with a sudden pause at the end. ``Eliza, you had another bad dream?''

``Yeah...'' Eliza replied looking embarrassed.

``It's fine darling. It's just, we need to get you some underwear and pants on.'' Nathan said doing his best to soften the uncomfortable blow. Eliza and Felix looked down and saw that Eliza was wearing nothing, of course she was wearing nothing she took it off to avoid getting Felix's bed wet. Eliza looked embarrassed with Felix's heart sinking. ``Now don't worry Eliza, it's ok. Let's go to the laundry room to get you some dry clothes.'' Nathan put his spoon down into his bowl and stood up, he walked down the corridor without a hesitation with Eliza and Felix following closely. Felix didn't have to tag along, but he was still highly anxious to leave Eliza alone with any adult. As they got to the laundry Nathan stuck his hands into a washing basket, pulling out underwear and her first night's pajama pants for Eliza. Eliza grabbed them and left to her room to put them on.  Nathan headed back to his breakfast without comment with Felix standing in the hallway waiting for Eliza to come back. When Eliza left her room with her pants on Felix looked at her with a slight puzzled look.

``I don't see why we didn't just get proper dressed.'' Felix shrugged; Eliza copied but smiled in appreciation.

``But pig-jamas are comfy though.'' Eliza said with a toothy grin. ``I'm hungree.'' Eliza added as she walked up to Felix opening her hand at him to hold. He grabbed it and together they headed back to the dining room. Nathan stood up at the table as the two turned t corner, he was fixing his tie and looking at his watch expectantly.

``Hey you two, I'm sorry I would get you your breakfast but me and the twins have to go right now.'' Nathan said in a hurried tone, he walked around to the twins and looked down on them. ``Come on Elijah and Tobias, we don't want to be late.''

``Late is bad.'' Tobias said plainly as he looked up. Nathan with care and grace picked up both the boys and held them up for them to grab each of his shoulders for balance. Nathan walked past Felix and Eliza as he headed to the front door.

``Hey hun? Could you do their breakfast?'' Nathan said as he got to the front door looking into his bedroom.

``Of course! I'm bloody starving too you know.'' Rita called out with a laugh, Felix and Eliza stood watching Nathan and the twins at the door. Rita came out of the room and kissed Nathan on the lips and then kissed each of the twins on the forehead. ``Goodbye you three, have a good time at kindi.'' With that said she opened the front door to let Nathan and the twins leave to the car. Rita closed the door after waving and then walked down to the kitchen with Felix and Eliza watching. ``Hello you two.'' Rita said in a jolly tone.

``Hello!'' Eliza said as she walked fast up to Rita, grabbing and hugging tightly into her.

``Now I'm hungry, you two are hungry, so I'm going to cook some delicious breakfast for all of it.'' Rita looked down at Eliza and smiled sweetly. ``So, I got a hankering for some bacon and eggs. Does that sound good to you two?'' Felix in particular sounded interested in the idea with a subtle `mmm...'. Eliza still clinged to Rita and didn't respond at all. ``Well at least Felix is excited for some good tucker.'' Rita joked as she rubbed Eliza's head. ``What about you?''

``Yes.'' Eliza replied but refused to let go.

``That's great, now I'll need to get to cooking. Can you let go of me, Eliza?'' Rita asked carefully. Eliza rubbed her face into Rita as a sign of `no'. ``Come on now I don't want you to get hurt while I cook you breakie.'' Rita looked at Felix with `help' on her face, getting Felix to walk up and put his hand on her shoulder.

``Come on, Eliza. I'm fucking starving.'' Felix whined at her, getting her to let go and nodding in response. Felix and Eliza sat at the table as Rita went into the kitchen and started cooking.

``Now how many eggs do you two want?''

``One.'' Eliza and Felix said after another. As Rita cooked the delicious smell waft through the room getting both kids excited for their breakfast. While cooking, Rita got plates and cutlry to put place at the table for her and the kids. When it was ready to eat she brought the food in a tray and placed it on the table and held a egg spatula in a hand. She gave each of them an egg, gave herself a bunch of bacon and waved her hand over the rest.

``Feel free to grab what you want.'' Rita said as she started to eat, Felix and Eliza grabbed how much they wanted each and ate in silence. Rita smiled as she watched the two eat, with Felix getting twitchy with his eyes as he noticed her watching.

``Why do you and Nathan just fucking stare at us?'' Felix asked feeling agitated, Rita sighed as she chewed her bacon.

``We don't mean any harm. It's just that we love you two and frankly it makes me happy seeing you two chow down on some good tucker.'' Rita explained casually.

``It makes me feel weird, I don't like it.'' Felix responded with his voice wavering a little.

``I understand, and we're sorry.'' Rita continued to eat but did her best to not look at the other two, causing Eliza to turn at Felix and thump him on the arm.

``Ow, what was that for?''

``I like being looked at.'' Eliza replied, she then lifted Mary up at her head level. ``-We like them! They are nice-.''

``Well I don't like being fucking stared at!'' Felix said showing great distress, Eliza frowned at him sternly.

``Eliza, I am glad you love me and Nathan so much. But don't get angry at Felix, some people just don't like being looked at, or focused.'' Rita rationalised to Eliza, getting her to look down as if she was in trouble. ``You aren't in trouble bubba.''

``I'm sowry.'' Eliza said as if she was forced to.

``It's ok, geeze. I just don't like being looked at.'' Felix said with a bit of bother, but looked at her with an understanding. They finished eating in no time at all, Rita stood up from the table and grabbed all the plates and cutlery to take them to the kitchen. Felix and Eliza sat at the table feeling satisfied in their stomachs.

``Yummy.'' Eliza said as she patted her belly.

``So, is anything going to happen today?'' Felix asked offhandedly, honestly hoping that nothing would happen.

``Actually yeah. I'm gonna be driving you two around the town to get a look at things.'' Rita replied in a jolly tone.

``Oh.'' Felix said rolling his eyes.

``That sounds fun!'' Eliza chimed in, she hopped off her chair and looked at Felix. ``-We would like to run around-!''

``Oh don't you worry I will be getting you two to look at stuff and to have a run around.''

``Exactly where will we get to do that?'' Felix asked trying to figure out what is going to happen.

``We'll be checking out landmarks of the city, one of the twin's favourite spots is right next to a park. Lots of rusted and broken vehicles that you can climb in.''

``That doesn't really sound like fun to me.''

``The twin's favourite vehicle is a big ol truck.''

``Ok that sounds cool.'' Felix admitted. ``Just where you drive?''

``Well yeah, but I do get a feeling we can open the trailer but no promises.''

``We get to be in a truck!'' Eliza yelled excitedly jumping up and down, she then began to run around the room.

``Go and get changed Eliza! Then go run outside and have fun!'' Rita called out. Eliza ran down the corridor to her room to get dressed asap. She got herself dressed and Eliza then ran to the screen door in the back-living room, opened it and ran outside to play. Felix sighed and felt an aching craving, he needed to smoke. He headed to his room, got himself dressed, grabbed his lighter and a cigarette before heading outside to sit on the stone wall to smoke. ``Thank you, Felix.'' Rita said as he headed to the backyard, he waved at her unenthusiastically as he left the back-living room. He past Eliza who played in the small playset in the backyard, she waved at him as he past. He sat on the wall, lit the cigarette, breathed it in and exhaled in a sigh. Eliza stopped playing to run over to Felix, grabbed on the wall and lifted herself up with great ease as she sat next to him.

``Hey Eliza.'' Felix said as he blew more smoke out.

``I like da view.'' Eliza said with a big grin, Felix huffed in amusement.

``I bet; you are shorter than me afterall. Do you imagine how big this truck is?'' Felix looked at Eliza and smiled.

``I imagine it to be biiiig.'' Eliza said with a look of wonder, ``It will make you small!'' Eliza said in a teasing look and tone.

``No fucking durr.'' Felix laughed and coughed. ``I just hope it isn't one of those pick up trucks, that would be fucking lame.''

``Nooo it still be cool. Especially if it has those... window... thingys between from and back.'' Eliza said stumbling over her words trying to figure out what was best to say.

``It would be cool if there was still some glass in the windows, so we can smash it.''

``Yeah!'' Eliza kicked her feet as she grinned at Felix looking even more excited.

``But like, we don't know when this will be. We might be driving around looking at boring shit until we get to the good stuff.''

``Maaaaybe.'' Eliza said still looking intently at Felix, Felix huffed more of his cigarette and exhaled it slowly; this looked very cool in Eliza's eyes. Even though she tried and hated smoking she always found Felix smoking to be cool, even when it got in her eyes and she'd start coughing. ``Play with me!'' Eliza yelled as she stood up on the wall and jumped down to ground level, rolling as she landed.

``Whoa easy, Eliza.'' Felix said stunned.

``Play with me!'' Eliza yelled as she ran to the playset, Felix shrugged as he looked at his finished cigarette, smooshed it against the stone and hopped off to join her. Felix was a bit too big for the playset, but he looked like he could still join her on the swing set. It thankfully wasn't a cheap plastic design but more wooden so it looked safe enough for him to try. He sat on one of the swings as Eliza sat on the other.

``So how does this exactly work anyway?'' Felix asked, he's never been on a swing but he has seen other kids play on it.

``You do this with your legs!'' Eliza said as she demonstrated how to swing, she slowly picked up momentum and started swinging at a decent pace. Felix tried to copy but he just wasn't getting it, so much so that he was getting grouchy at not being able to manage it. Eliza scrapped her feet on the grass to stop, hopped off and went behind Felix. ``I'll push you!''

``Wait what?'' Felix said alarmed. Eliza started to push Felix's back as he gripped onto the chains fearing he was going to eat dirt.

``Hold on tight!'' Eliza yelled as she pushed Felix forward, stepping back or aside to avoid being hit as he came back. The more she pushed the further he went, and she continued to push him while yelling `Do what I did!''. Eventually he got the hang of it and Eliza stopped pushing him, he felt the breeze collide with his legs but it was working for him. He finally understood how to swing. Eliza hopped on hers and picked up momentum in no time and joined Felix as they swung.

``This is fun!'' Felix said in amazement. ``I've always wanted to swing!'' The rush of going up, falling back was exhilarating. ``When did you learn how to swing?''

``Daddy taught me, the Elijah and Tobias too!'' Eliza said, she stopped holding onto one side of the chains in order to prepare herself to jump off. She launched herself off the swing, landed and rolled on impact, freaking out Felix in the process. She turned around and ran back at the still moving swing, sat on it once more and continued swinging.

``Fuck me I thought you were going to hurt yourself.'' Felix said out of breath, Eliza laughed and shook her head as she swung.

``Of course not! Let's jump together!'' Eliza said as she prepared to do it again, Felix watched and hesitated.

``How the fuck do I do this without eating shit?'' Felix said with hesitation, Eliza then started to instruct and demonstrate to Felix on what to do. She demonstrated it further by launching herself off the swing again, this time landing on her feet and stumbling forward before a stop. She stood there jumping up and down at Felix while shouting `You can do it!' to encourage Felix. Felix copied what Eliza told him to do and waited for the perfect time to launch himself. Then it happened, he allowed himself to fly off of the swing and landed on his feet stumbling forward. Eliza caught Felix and laughed in pure joy, Felix copying as the adrenaline hit. They continued to play on the swing set for another 15 minutes before Rita comes out of the house to watch.

``I'm glad you two are having fun.'' Rita called out to the two kids. ``I think we'll have to get ready in about 20 minutes, sounds good?'' Felix and Eliza turned to their left to look at Rita as they swung, Felix shrugged with Eliza nodding. ``Alright sounds good.'' Rita headed back inside leaving Felix and Eliza to play. When the time came to stop and get ready, both Felix and Eliza were tired out and hot. They went back inside and sat on the lounges, turning on the fan as the chilled to cool off; they were not use to Australian weather. Rita walked into the room and greeted the two.

``Hello...'' Eliza said looking tired and hot.

``Hmm, maybe I should have gotten you two to wear hats.'' Rita said looking disappointed, ``I'm sorry bubbas, I messed up on that. I'll let you two cool down for a bit and I'll fix you two a cold drink.'' Rita went into the kitchen, opened up a fridge and got a big bottle of water out. She filled two cups up and carried them over to the two hot kids. Both of them grabbed the cups and gulped down the water eagerly.

``Ahhhhh fuck that's good.'' Felix exclaimed coughing, causing Eliza to laugh as a result.

``I bet! And It's also a good thing the twins aren't here to hear you swearing. Haw!'' Rita laughed as she stood over them. ``Do you two want another?''

``Yes please.'' Felix said handing his glass back with great eagerness, Eliza nodded and handed her glass back at Rita.

``Aw that's sweet.''

``What?'' Felix looked confused back,

``Oh, it's just nice to hear `yes please'. Shows you do have a good sense of manners. That means I'll have to give you something extra.'' Rita said sounding impressed, Felix looked back in perplexment trying to figure out if she was being sarcastic or not.

``Pwease can I have some tooooo?'' Eliza said feeling a little rushed for affection and recognition.

``Of course, bubba! I'll get you two some ice cubes in your cups to go with.'' Rita said in her jolly tone and smiled. She took the glasses back to the kitchen, filled them with cold water from the bottle, opened the freeze and got a ice cube tray out. She put a few in the cups each and took the cups back to Felix and Eliza. She gave their drinks back, remembering which one they drunk from, and went back to grab the bottle and came back to them once more. ``If you want any more you two can finish this bottle here.''

``Thank you.'' Felix and Eliza said as they drunk from their cups, the cold water feeling so good right now.

``So like, is this a fresh water bottle?'' Felix asked curiously.

``Nah, it's an old water bottle. We fill it up at the tap and store it in the second fridge, it's filled with bottles of water.''

``Do you wash them?'' Felix asked feeling more curious.

``That would take so much time and frankly defeats the purpose of easy-to-get cold water. Soo the answer is no.''

``You mean you all drink from the bottles, fill them up and put them back in the fridge?''

``Yeah.'' Felix didn't reply at first for he didn't know if he was either disgusted or unaffected. He shrugged at first and then looked at Rita more intently.

``Isn't that like, unhealthy?''

``Unhygienic you mean, I mean yes when one of us is sick. But that is the only time we wash the bottles. Otherwise, us sharing germs has no consequences.''

``No wonder the twins like to suck each other's thumbs.'' Felix said offhandedly, Rita cacked up and leaned forward as she let it all out.

``I never pieced THAT together! You're a bright boy.'' Rita laughed causing Eliza to laugh too.

``Wait, you two didn't?'' Felix said looking amused.

``No not at all!'' Rita laughed some more before standing up to go back to the kitchen. ``Even if that was true, I don't doubt the twins would have done it anyway, they always love being close to each other.''

``They're funny and weird but I like them.'' Eliza replied back.

``And they love you two a lot! Which is great to see the twins willing to connect with anyone but themselves.'' As Rita said that it was clearly obvious to Felix that she was ecstatic about it. ``They even dreamt of you two! My god that's amazing.'' She added.

``Dreamt of us?'' Felix asked feeling a little worried.

``Yeah! Nathan told me. Elijah dreamt of you as a super hero, saving him from danger. Probably because of how you two saved them from those little brats yesterday.'' Rita proudly said, ``And Elijah was very sorry he didn't dream of you as a super hero, Eliza. But he emphasized that he loves you two a bunch.'' Eliza smiled widely,

``I love them too!'' Eliza chimed in.

``What caught me by surprise is that Tobias dreamt of Elijah and the both of you living together in a house.''

``Huh.''

``And went into detail that all you four would sleep in the same bed.''

``That's kinda weird but... kinda cool?'' Felix said with uncertainty.

``Tobias is a speaker but he generally never says much to show or demonstrate his feelings. So to hear that he dreamt of all you four sleeping together, it got me smiling. It is weird to hear but that's Tobias.'' Rita sighed as she leaned against the kitchen counter. ``Now how was the water? Do you two need anymore?''

``I'm fine, thanks.'' Felix said as he slowly stood up,

``I'm goood.''

``That's great. Now do you two need help with putting your socks and shoes on?''

``I think I can manage it.'' Felix said, he looked down feeling a sense of insecurity and shame; he hoped he could manage it. He walked off with Eliza following behind to go to their rooms, Felix and Eliza got their socks and met in Eliza's room to put their stuff on. It took Felix 4 tries before he could get his shoelaces right. Eliza struggled with hers but she got it on the third try. They kicked their feet off of Eliza's bed, from where they were putting their socks and shoes on, and headed back to the back-living room.

``We're weady!'' Eliza called out.

``That's good, now I'm bringing a small cooler bag with some bottles of water just in case. Now make sure you've gone to the toilet, you two! We don't know when we'll find a toilet.'' Rita called out of her room, then travelled through the kitchen. As she finished speaking, she pointed at them and in the direction of the toilet. Felix and Eliza shrugged and complied. When everyone had been to the toilet, got their socks and shoes on and completely ready, Rita got both of the kids with her at the front door to leave. She got a couple of hats out and handed them to the two kids, they were the same hats that they wore yesterday.

``Nathan gave me this hat yesterday.'' Felix stated as he put it on.

``Well, it might as well be yours since he no longer wears it. Besides it looks great on you, bub.'' Rita's jolly and easy-going attitude was contagious, Felix nodded and then shrugged.

``I mean, sure? It's a good hat.'' Felix wasn't sure how he felt right now, if that was said by any other adult, excluding Nathan maybe, he would feel gross and uncomfortable. But it actually felt like a compliment. Eliza put on her cap and stood straight as if she was in the army, arm out in front of her and across her forehead.

``And that cap suits you real good as well. Maybe we can get you a similar hat as what Felix has but-,''

``-No no no, she likes this hat-.'' Mary said, she dangled in Eliza's other hand but was raised up to her chest when she began to speak.

``Sounds fine then.'' Rita said as she straightened her shirt. ``Well, it's time to go.'' Rita and the kids left the house with Rita locking it behind them as they went to the garage. The second car was different from the many seated one that they arrived in. It was a Toyota landcruiser, 4WD big car with a solid bulbar; it was old looking but despite the age it was solid. Rita unlocked the car and got in the driver's seat, ``You two can hop in the front, plenty of space for both of you.'' Rita called out. Felix opened the front passenger door and the seat was wide with 2 separate belt buckles.

``Wow the seat is huge!'' Eliza said barely containing her shock and only barely not slurring.

''Yep! Now come on let's get going.'' Rita said as she turned the car on. Felix started to climb in first when Rita turned at them and waved her hand at them to say `no'. ``No no Eliza is the smallest and has to go in first. That way you won't be squashed against the gear stick, Felix.'' Felix stepped back and let Eliza go in first before going in, they both sat on the seat and put their buckles on; Eliza's belt being around her hips rather than across her body. It wasn't as spacious as they previous thought, but they both fitted on the seat together well enough. Rita backed the car out of the garage and carefully reversed down the steep driveway, Felix and Eliza looked out of the car and watched with nervous anticipation. Once on the road Rita opened her window, drove around a roundabout and headed down a long road.

``This is the way we came.'' Felix said as he winded his window down and he looked out to his left. Seeing all the dry and dusty bushland passing as they drove.

``Yep. Don't worry I ain't taking you two back, this is just the road that takes us into town.''

``I know, you didn't have to say that.''

``Just making sure, bub.''

``Lots of buuushes and... thingys out there.'' Eliza said as she looked past and across Felix to look outside.

``No kidding, makes me wonder why anyone would live out here.''

``Well, all this land use to belong to the aborigines. All the places we have cities are what everyone thought was best to live at. So at some point all of this was considered liveable. But then again, the aborigines were smart to keep moving.''

``What counts as an aboriginal anyway?'' Felix asked offhandedly.

``Well, all the people that were here before outsiders came in. You got your various snake families, the koala folk, the sugar-glider folk, echidna folk, the kangaroo and wallaby folk, the wombats, the dingos, there's so many of them to say without running out of breath.''

``Wait. Does that mean I'm an aboriginal?'' Felix asked with a puzzled look.

``You are a roo, so yes. Doesn't matter if you were raised in another country. By blood you are from here.'' Rita explained. It didn't really sink in with Felix at first, but as he thought about it more he got more confused and even angry.

``I'm not an aboriginal. I was raised in America. Just because I'm a roo doesn't mean I'm automatically a fucking aboriginal.'' Felix said feeling discomfort growing by the second, Eliza looked at him with concern.

``Here's some history that I'll need to explain to you, Felix. About the stolen generation. A generation of aboriginal children taken from their parents, communities and homes, given to other families so they can adapt to how the government wanted them to be. More than likely your parents of their parents who was taken from their homes, then those that owned them took them to a whole different country.'' Rita's words hurt more than they should have. ``It was a horrible act, many of the aboriginal races cry for an apology, compensation and more.'' Rita turned her head and looked at Felix, who's face was all sorts emotional.

``Why are you telling me this?'' Felix sniffed with angry tears. Rita didn't respond at first and then focused on the road.

``Because I believe that if we get you involved with the local roo tribe that you will find yourself, and be apart of a group. Nathan and I believe you would benefit meeting and hanging out with other roos.'' Rita explained as best as she could, Felix looked out of the window to hide his face, wipe his tears away and to feel the brushing wind.

``I don't want to talk about this.'' Felix stated, trying to contain himself.

``Ok, Felix.'' Felix sighed as he felt relieved that she didn't try to continue, it was all a bit too much for him to handle. A short while passed and they finally met the end of the long ass road as Rita turned right to go into town. As they entered the commercial district of the town Felix observed the people of the town doing their own thing. As they pulled at the traffic lights Felix noticed a group of roos, mixed ages and all wearing some kind of aboriginal pride kind of clothing, maybe it was typical clothing they would wear but Felix couldn't tell. He didn't really want to watch them, feeling self-conscious due to the previous conversation, but they looked happy enough to him. Some were walking across the pedestrian crossing, shoeless even. Felix watched in amazement and shuddered.

``How the hell can they walk barefooted? In this fucking climate in this fucking town?''

``It's how they walk. I'll be honest that I too don't grasp how they can do it. If we do it, well we'd get blisters!'' Rita laughed. ``Can't help but envy them.'' The lights turned green and the roos Felix was watching disappeared into the horizon. For the next few hours Rita had taken Felix and Eliza to check out the town key sights and to enjoy some food while they were out. First, they checked out the local museum that Felix and Eliza had a good time looking at. The exhibits telling them about prehistoric life and how the world looked like eons ago. How people adapted and grew into the nations they became. What was most interesting was that how the various races that exist, that many animals have strong resemblance to the vast and growing populaces; especially the animals that are typically house pets. The history of how the majority of the vast amount of races, the cultures within them and the societies built from accept that those creatures just didn't evolve. It's a mystery still waiting to be fully uncovered. People just accept the similarities exist and worldwide the populace don't see it as an issue.

``So weird that, most of the animals in this world looks like us.'' Felix remarked still struggling to really comprehend.

``Sooo there are animal monkeys out there?'' Eliza said as she clutched her bear close. ``I wanna meet dem! I wanna meet dem!'' Eliza jumped as she got excited.

``Not every animal can be a pet, Eliza.'' Explained Rita who was enjoying a cold drink. When they were done at the museum, Rita then took the kids down to walk through the town. She headed down a cozy alley where a fish and chip shop was. There was a couple of chairs and tables in the alley, because of where it was there was a delightful amount of shade and because of the shade it was cool. Felix and Eliza sat at one of the tables with a drink each due to Rita's generous heart. When the food came it was a wrapped paper bag with hot chips inside.

``These chips are fucking tasty.'' Felix exclaimed as he shoved more in his mouth after blowing on them to cool.

``They got chicken salt, special tasty salt.'' Rita said, she held a bunch of chips in her hand, resting on her stomach.

``Chicken salt? Is that made by chickens or made of chickens?'' Felix asked curiously.

``I'll be honest I have no idea hah!'' Rita laughed.

``It's tasty though.'' Eliza added, shoving a bunch in her mouth.

``Easy on there, Eliza.'' Rita said with a big grin. They ate all the chips together and said goodbye to the cool alley fish and chip shop. Rita took the two kids a walk down the street past shops and lots of other people. Most of the population were cats and dogs with various subfamilies to go with. The few that stuck out were the roos, kookaburras, goannas and a black and red snake. Rita made short work with explaining who is who to both kids as neither of them have seen such people before.

``Yeah, those folks are from the kookaburra tribe from the north, but they have spread all across Australia so they're one of the most common indigenous people. They a part of the bird folk tribes predominantly. Now they are red belly black snakes, or red belly blacks, they're from the far east of Australia. They're chill folk so don't be afraid of them, get to know them and they're good mates. Those folks who are sitting down chatting to one another over there, those are goanna folk. They too are pretty widespread in their tribes with others. They're more reserved I find but they're good folk.''

``Are any indigenous race not friendly?'' Felix asked, Eliza nodded along.

``Yeah they all sound nice.''

``Well, there are the cassowary folk of the cassowary tribe. They don't like us outsiders, they respect and at the very least tolerate other aboriginal tribes and races though. But they are angry and hurt people, angry at what outside furs and scalies have done to their home. You go near their home and they'll tell you to go away. They want nothing to do with outsiders.''

``Why are they angry?'' Eliza asked, still not clued in the history.

``When the colonists, prisoners and other outsiders came to Australia a lot of the native tribes were hit with disease, death and lost their homes. Some tribes were mistreated more than others, some where more defensive and fought back to take back their home. The cassowaries saw much loss and they will never forgive until everything that was taken from them is given back.''

``It's hard to give back a life.'' Felix said dead panned.

``True, but they want their land. Their rights. No outsider law and for there to be no trespassing on their sacred sites.'' As Rita explained to the kids a stranger to Rita.

``Gidday Rita, telling of some history?'' The stranger was a sugar glider, she wore loose and cool clothing and had a bag around her left shoulder. She had should length hair that matched her grey fur. She smiled warmly and walked up to Rita for a hug. Rita hugged the stranger and nodded.

``Yep. These two don't know much about Australia history and the natives.''

``Oh yeah? Are they your kids?'' She turned to them.

``Yeah. Nathan and I adopted and brought them to our home.''

``Well, it's good to meet you two then.'' The sugar glider smiled widely and bent down to shake hands; Eliza eagerly shook hands with Felix more hesitantly allowing it. ``My name is Kirra, a pleasure to meet you two.''

``This is Eliza and this is Felix.'' Rita introduced.

``What part of Aus did you come from fella?'' Kirra asked towards Felix.

``America.'' Felix said dead panned, he looked away feeling awkward and nervous. Kirra didn't look phased and nodded.

``What's it like over there?''

``We didn't have a good time over there.'' Felix said bluntly, Eliza nodded and lifted Mary up to speak.

``-We like this place-!'' Eliza said in Mary's voice. ``-Much more than last-.''

``Then I'm glad you two are here then.'' Kirra turned to Rita with a nod.

``Hey Kirra?'' Asked Rita. ``Do you have time? You probably know more about indigenous history than I do. Think you can share with the kids?''

``Yeah nah, sorry I'm afraid. I'll be honest I don't know much other than what my mum told me. It'd be best you go speak to an elder. And I gotta go to meet with my mob.'' Kirra said as she straightened her bag. ``Sorry mate.''

``Not a problem, Kirra. I'm glad we got to see you.''

``You have a mob?'' Eliza asked looking astonished, Rita and Kirra laughed.

``Yeah mate, mob being my friends and fam.'' Eliza withdrew when she heard them laugh.

``It's ok, Eliza. I'll tell you a story to why we laughed.'' Rita turned at Kirra and waved, Kirra waved and walked off. ``Now let me tell you two of how I met Kirra.'' Rita continued to walk down the street with Eliza and Felix walking beside her. ``When Nathan and I got here we knew no one. On a completely different story I had the twins shopping with me and they were wearing a red and white checked gingham dress on. Completely different story! Don't you worry I'll tell you two about that one later.'' Eliza started to giggle as the mood lightened up with Rita's natural easy-going attitude. ``Now Kirra saw us in the shops and stopped me for a chat. We had a lovely chat and she said she'll see me around. We exchanged addresses and numbers so we could talk. She called me one day and we chatted for a bit and then said that `her mob would be happy to meet me and Nathan'. I was so nervous that I said yes, because I hoped that she was joking. They came around the next day and it was a bunch of them, all friendly smiling. Midconversation I asked, `so what is your mob called?' They all looked at me so confused and then began laughing. `A mob is how we say friends and family, mate.' One of them said, we all began laughing.'' Rita started laughing once more, getting both Eliza to laugh and Felix to chuckle. ``I was so afraid! But anyway, that's how I met Kirra and that's why we laughed, Eliza. We weren't making fun of you.''

``That's so funny.'' Eliza said as she grabbed Rita's hand to hold and for comfort.

``Well, I'm glad you feel better, bub. I saw you look uncomfortable so I had to tell you.''

``So, Elijah and Tobias wear dresses?'' Felix asked offhandedly.

``Oh, they did but we shouldn't talk about that in public.'' Rita said with a nervous smile to Felix.

They spent the next hour searching a clothing shop. Rita explained to the both of them that they did bring their own clothes but it would be nice to get new and fresh clothes for their comfort. Nothing remarkable happened as they tried on clothes leaving with several days' worth of new clothing. They went back to the car, got in and the heat was stinking and hot. Rita quickly turned the car on for the air-con to cool the car down.

``It's so hot.'' Eliza complained,

``Yeah, this is awful.'' Felix added.

``The air-con will make it's magic in a little bit, just be patient.'' Once everyone was buckled in, Rita pulled the car out of it's parking spot and drove off. ``We'll be heading to that place with all the broken-down cars and the big truck.''

``Fuck yeah.'' Felix said, in regards to both the air-con working and the notion of the truck. Once the car cooled down, Rita told Felix to open his window so she could turn the air-con off, for the wind blowing into the car will feel better overall. After a short drive they made it to the location. A large track with several small cars and utes all in a line next to the road. On the other side of them all was plenty of grass and the biggest tree Eliza and Felix have ever seen. It was way bigger than the other and far wider; it looked ancient. Rita pulled up in a car park and put up the covers once more. Felix and Eliza hopped out of the car and ran over the vehicles. All of them had their doors opened or missing entirely. Felix hopped in the driver's seat in one of the cars, Eliza hopped in the passenger to join in. The steering wheel although rusted has a charm that both of them enjoyed, much like the rest of the rusted bunch of junk. The car had a gear stick that was stiff but able to be moved with enough force. They hopped of the car and ran to a ute with a trailer. The front was completely smashed but the seats (and the space to sit) was untouched. This time Eliza said in the driver's seat and kept pressing the no longer functioning gas pedal. Felix sat in the passenger and sighed as he imagined sitting in the moving ute.

``Keep in mind you two to watch your feet, there could be some glass still on the floor.'' Rita said as she walked over.

``Ok.'' Felix called back, he got out of the ute and set his eyes on the big truck. He climbed up and shuffled into the driver's seat, he could feel himself shake as he looked down to see how far up he was. It was cramped in the driver's seat with the old worn-out leather and the rust wasn't as bad as the rest. He relaxed and took a deep breath as he took it all in. So much has happened since he has come to Australia, the anxiety filled plane trip to the crowded airport, to the adoption agency to his new home. Now he's sitting in a big ol broken down truck and he hasn't been abused yet. This surreal feeling is so foreign to him that it makes him want to cry. He felt a hand on his shoulder shaking him awake, Eliza's toothy smile meeting his eyes.

``It's so cool up here!'' Eliza called out,

``I bet!'' Rita called back, she stood at ground level to make sure they got up alright.

``This is a cool fucking truck.'' Felix said, he moved the gear stick about and then poked at some of the remaining glass of the windshield; it cracked off a bit but landed safely away from them.

``It's so cool!'' Eliza replied. She then started talking to Felix as if they were on a journey, a make-believe journey. Felix humoured the idea and had fun pretending that they were on a dusty road. Eventually they climbed out the way they came to get back on solid ground. More time passed as Felix and Eliza checked out all the cars, seeing all the various types, sizes and designs. When it got to 1pm Rita collected them both to get back to their car as it was time to hit the road again. As Rita drove them off the cheer that both Eliza and Felix felt slowly drifted away as they already missed the row of broken-down vehicles.

Their next destination was the library, Rita explained that it had air-conditioning, a cafe as well as a gaming section for kids to take turns playing. Neither Felix or Eliza was excited about the library but when they got inside, they already thanked the air-con. Felix and Eliza wandered the library they walked past section after section, they've never seen so many books before or even set foot in a library before. They came across the gaming section with two kids playing a game with another 2 watching. Felix and Eliza sat on a free chair together and watched. Felix's mood went dark and irritated as the kids quickly became annoying, insufferable and idiotic. The way they spoke, what they said, what they did in the game made him itching for punching them. What then happened was Felix's temper and bad mannerisms being unleashed. Eliza watched in silent horror as Felix berated the kids, the kids talking smack back to only get more aggressive replies from Felix. Felix crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes as he talked down at the brats playing, saying names and insulting as much about them as possible. Eliza never knew what to do when Felix got like this. One kid kept telling him to fuck off, to only get ignored and mocked by Felix. Adults came over to sort out the situation with all 4 kids at the game area telling them that Felix was being mean. Felix left with a scoff and a glare, remarking that they were all pathetic and should die. Felix stormed off with a fuming head and Eliza followed closely to make sure he was alright. But one of the adults caught up, demanding Felix to leave the library, who in turned refused to listen. As the adult tried to grab Felix's shoulder to drag him back to the entrance, Felix shrugged off the grab violently and backed off against the wall braced. Felix stood up against a wall as the adult berated him in the corner demanding him to apologize to the kids and to leave. Felix was silent as he stared back. He looked past the annoying and ugly adult to see Rita rushing over to take control of the situation.

``What's happening here?'' Rita asked in a huff.

``This little bitch was being rude and aggressive to my kids and 2 others in the gaming area.'' They turned to Rita, ``Are they yours?''

``Yes.'' Rita replied,

``Then I'm embarrassed for you.'' They snarled, ``Get him out of here.'' They stormed off without Rita getting another word. Rita looked at Felix with mild disappointment but was mostly feeling tired.

``Alright you two, we should get going. That would be best, eh?'' Rita said, Felix nodded slowly with Eliza nodding back looking emotionally conflicted. Felix and Eliza followed Rita out of the library back to the car, once they got in Rita began asking questions. ``What happened back there?'' She asked as she turned on the car for the air-con.

``They were so fucking stupid, making comments about bashing this rando character. Kept saying they were raping him.'' Felix growled folding his arms and clenching up, he took his hat off and rested it over his knees.

``And you snapped?'' Rita asked, narrowing her eyes trying to grasp the situation before judging.

``Of course I did, it's not fucking funny! Little fucking pieces of shits.'' Felix growled more,

``They w-w-were also laughing. D-th-they were laughing at it.'' Eliza struggled to added, she wasn't emotional but was agitated in her expression.

``I told them they were fucking stupid pieces of shits, stupid fucking shits, ugly fucking shits. That their parents are dumb fucking cunts to make them.'' Felix kept trying to look away from Rita. ``I wanted to punch them so bad.''

``I'm glad you didn't, Felix.'' Rita said with a relieved sigh.

``I threatened to punch them.'' Felix finally looked Rita back in the eyes.

``I can see why, Felix. But that did not have to happen.''

``They shouldn't have been making fun about rape!'' Felix yelled.

``Felix, I know! But you can't just go around starting fights, you'll get into trouble, you'll get Eliza into trouble, then you'll get Nathan and I into trouble. Your actions will affect us.'' Rita spoke as straight as possible. ``Do you understand?'' Felix's ears folded back slightly and his face shifted slightly to sad and hurt.

``Yes. But they were making rape a big joke.''

``And they're horrible little shits. I know, Felix. But you could have just walked away.''

``And go where?'' Felix complained,

``We don't k-knows that place.'' Eliza stuttered.

``You two could have just walked back to me, told me about them and we would have left pronto. We can always leave when it gets uncomfortable, you two.'' Rita's face relaxed a bit as compassion and sympathy washed over her face. ``Now, let's go somewhere cool to chill to feel better.''

``I want to go home.'' Felix said tiredly, Eliza nodded with him frowning.

``Alright bubs, let's go home then.'' Rita drove out of the parking spot and drove right back home. The air-con was turned off so the windows could go down, Felix rested head on his arms that were resting on the window sill, as he watched the town drive past. Eliza rested her head against Felix and closed her eyes as she listened to the brushing wind. When they got to the driveway, the steep shift was noticeable but they got into the garage safe and sound. Rita got both of them out of the car, locked it up, opened the house and let them both in without issue. ``Home sweet home.'' Rita said feeling relieved. Felix walked straight to his room to lie down, not knowing that Eliza was following closely. As he got to his bed to sit on, he jumped as he got startled.

``What are you doing here?'' He said breathless.

``I want to be with you.'' Eliza said looking tired, Felix sighed. He couldn't tell her to fuck off, he wouldn't tell her to fuck up either. So, he nodded back understandably, took his socks and shoes off and let her do the same. They laid on the bed together as they napped their tiredness and frustration away. Felix got up momentarily to turn the fans on as the room's temperature was rising. Eliza rested her head against Felix as she held Mary underneath her own as they napped. Time passed so fast as they napped, they didn't know where it went. However, it became obvious once Rita started to wake them up.

``Felix, Eliza? I'm going to need you two to come with me to pick the twins up.'' Rita said as the knocked-on Felix's door. A weary and not too thrilled Felix opened his eyes and groaned.

``Must we?''

``I'm sorry but yes. I can't leave you two alone in the house. Besides, we're going to the beach afterwards.'' Neither Eliza or Felix looked excited as they looked at Rita still blinking. ``Do you two want to go to the beach?''

``Honestly I don't feel so good.'' Felix said feeling down.

``Alright then, we don't have to go to the beach. But I still need you two to come with me.''

``Fucking no!'' Felix yelled; his heart raced as he put his pillow over his face.

``Alright bub.'' Rita said softly in defeat. Felix removed his pillow and looked up at Rita who knelt down before him and Eliza. ``I'll leave you two home, but you two must stay together and not answer the front door unless it's Nathan or me.''

``Because of other pedophiles? If they fucking get inside I am going to stab them.'' Felix growled.

``And you should! But we need to prevent that from happening, so please do as I say.''

``Alright.''

``Alright, good. I'll be back with the twins in about 30min. Toodles.'' Rita left and closed Felix's door, as she walked down the corridor she sighed. The way Felix reacted just now did not sit well with her, the way he reacted didn't scream `an act for her to piss off'. She didn't want to force him; she didn't want that reaction that makes her feel like she triggered a fight or flight response. She got her keys and locked the house as she took off to pick up the twins. Felix sighed deeply and hid his snout under the pillow as she laid there.

``Are you ok?'' Asked Eliza, Felix didn't respond at first but he sighed once again and turned to face her.

``I am now. I'm just overwhelmed, I'm so fucking glad she left us alone.''

``I like her.'' Eliza added feeling as if Felix insulted Rita.

``I don't mean it like that, ugh. I just. Really didn't want to go out, aren't you the same?''

``Yeah, but I like her.''

``I know you do, I do too, alright geeze. It's fine. I just meant that I'm glad she allowed us to stay behind.'' Felix paused and shuddered. ``I'm glad she didn't force us, so, so thankful.'' Felix rolled over and faced the wall, Eliza didn't respond back but hugged him from behind and resting her head against him. Both of them breathed deeply as she relaxed together to sleep.

Rita drove into town and stopped at the twin's kindergarten. She walked in and noticed everyone was asleep, so she turned to find one of the staff. One sat on a chair reading a book in silence and quickly noticed Rita, they put the book down and stood up to greet her.

``Hello luv, here to pick up the twins?'' She asked,

``You betcha. Have they behaved themselves?'' The staff rubbed the back of her neck as if to say `actually no'.

``Tobias hit one of the kids.''

``Ah bugger, any idea what provoked him?''

``From what I saw, Elijah and Tobias were doing their thing and one kid thought it was funny to split them apart. From their hand holding I mean. Elijah started crying and Tobias just walloped the kid in the face, actually broke a tooth.''

``Oh god.'' Rita said as she rested her face into her palm. ``I'm sorry, Linda.'' The staff nodded back looking withdrawn, she wasn't going to like what she was going say.

``Look Rita, we love your boys. But it's getting to the point that we might have to refuse them. We know it's not their fault.''

``Yeah, yeah I understand.'' Rita said as she looked over to the twins sighing. ``This is the... what, 10th time that the twins hurt another kid?''

``About that yeah.'' The staff stopped rubbing the back of her neck, ``I really do love those two. Very sweet and it really has been a pleasure to interact and play with them. It's just we can't get have any more parents filing complaints against us, we called up the kid's mother and she was understanding thankfully.''

``That's good.'' Rita paused as she looked into the room and saw her sleeping boys, both sucking each other's thumb. ``I better grab them now and take `em home, nothing else I can really do. Thanks so much, Linda.'' Rita looked back at the staff who smiled without a word. Rita crept into the room and knelt quietly before the twins. ``Elijah, Tobias. Come on boys, it's time to go home.'' She whispered as she gently rubbed Tobias's arm, waking him up in the process. ``Gidday, how are you?'' Rita smiled at Tobias; Elijah instinctually removed his thumb from Tobias's mouth for him to respond.

``Hi mum. Good.'' Tobias blinked; his saliva stringed to Elijah's thumb.

``That's good.'' Rita bent down close and kissed Tobias on the forehead and then kissed Elijah, who only now opened his eyes.

``Hi mum.'' Elijah said in a cheerier tone than his significant twin.

``Hello love.'' Rita started to move her arms to lift them both up, both twins more than happy to let her. Carefully and gracefully Rita slowly picked both the boys up and carried them both, each holding onto either side of Rita's shoulders as she held them up from their buttocks. Both Elijah and Tobias rested their head against Rita as she carried them out of the dim and quiet room.

``Hello boys.'' Linda said as she waved at the sleepy-eyed twins. ``I do hope next time nothing bad will happen.'' Linda waved goodbye as Rita and the twins left. Rita put the two in the backseat of her Landcruiser and drove them home. When they got home, she took both the boys out of the car and onto the ground for them to hold hands and walk, she locked the car and opened the house. The first thing she had to do is check on Felix and Eliza. She walked down the corridor to Felix's room, opened the door slightly and quietly to not wake them up. Both asleep soundly as Eliza clutched to Felix from behind as they both faced the wall. Rita left without a word or sign she was there and went to relax watching TV in the living room. As Rita left to the living room the twins stepped around the corner without her noticing and walked down to Felix's room. They opened the door with enough of a creak to wake up Eliza. Eliza rolled over and waved at them.

``Hello.'' She said with a yawn, Elijah opened his mouth to say something to only get it covered by Tobias's hand. They stared at each other for a moment and then faced at Eliza.

``Can we join? We're tired too.'' Tobias asked softly. Eliza nodded back allowing them to climb in, there was barely any space but the twins made good use of it as Elijah hugged Eliza while Tobias hugged him; Elijah and Tobias couldn't be happier to be with their saviours. Some time passed and Felix rolled over to face Eliza, he opened an eye as he felt an extra arm. He saw the twins and while he was surprised, he didn't care. So what if they joined his already cramped bed and he wanted to be alone? Besides, he's never felt safer despite how cramped and in the corner of his bed. He rubbed Elijah's arm and felt his soft fur, rubbed Eliza's and felt how short and smooth it was. He never really thought about the fur difference between him and other races. He continued to stroke Eliza and Elijah's arm, after a while the answer was clear. Elijah, and most likely Tobias too, have much nicer fur. Perhaps it's because they are so pampered and smothered in love, or perhaps they actually do have nicer fur by default. It was longer than both his and Eliza's, it felt soft and smooth and he wanted to keep stroking him like he was a pet. Elijah's eyes opened and panic set in to Felix. Elijah smiled widely and his eyes sparkled as the light reflected from the blinds, he wasn't the least bit upset at Felix stroking his arm. To Felix though his heart raced and he continued to panic, he was doing what Noah did to him and he knew it. Elijah's tail wagged causing Tobias to wake up, he raised his head to look over Elijah and faintly smiled looking at Felix.

``Hey.'' Felix managed to say, he gulped to himself.

``Hello.'' Elijah said putting his thumb in his mouth, Tobias put his head over Elijah's shoulder and rested on him.

``Hello.'' Tobias said also reaching over to put his thumb in his mouth.

``What's up?'' Felix asked, trying to forget what he is feeling. Elijah looked puzzled at first as he took it literally, looking up at the ceiling for a moment. ``No no I mean. How are you?''

``We're fine.'' Tobias replied, ``We enjoy sleeping with you two.''

``I can tell. But, why?''

``You're our heroes.'' Felix felt a pit inside him as Tobias said that, he doesn't want to be a hero. If anything, HE needed to be saved ages ago, how can he be a hero if he never got saved? His mind quarrelled about the notion of being a hero and his ears folded back. Neither of the twins could tell he was feeling uncomfortable, he could feel his right eye twitch; so he held Eliza tighter to him. The twins both closed their eyes as they went back to snoozing with him. His thumping heart and heavy breathing still present as he tried to relax by closing his eyes. He felt Eliza nuzzle his chest and opened his to see her staring at him.

``You ookie?'' She asked casually, it's not the first time she has felt Felix freak out in silence.

``I think so.'' He whispered. ``I'm going to get up, I'm not tired anymore.'' Felix sat up and scooted to the end of the bed put his feet on the ground to stand up. Eliza yawned and started to do the same but Elijah held her the bed.

``Can you let go? Pwease?'' Eliza said as she tried to get up, Elijah let go causing him to push himself away causing Tobias to fall out of bed. Elijah rolled off quickly and went over Tobias to flop on the ground behind him.

``Geeze you two, are you alright?'' Felix said as he saw the ungraceful display.

``Yeah.'' Tobias said rubbing the back of his head, Elijah wrapped his arms around Tobias from behind and laughed.

``That was fun.'' He giggled into Tobias's ear, he pulled Tobias inwards to himself. Eliza got off the bed and stood over them laughing.

``This did look fun.'' Eliza helped Elijah and Tobias up by lending a hand. ``Wanna play outside?'' Eliza asked as she squeezed Mary close to her.

``Sure!'' Elijah's face lit up with Tobias grabbing his hand. ``Let's goooooo!'' Elijah yelled as he and Tobias ran down the corridor, Eliza ran behind eager to play. Felix stood alone in his room as the sudden noise and crowd disappeared. He sighed as he sat down on his bed again, his ears folding back. He felt sick. He got up and walked to the bathroom and held himself over the toilet and began to throw up. When he was done he slowly stood himself up straight and flushed the toilet and wiped his face and mouth on his shirt. As he left the bathroom Rita was a few feet away,

``Felix are you ok? I heard you throwing up.'' Rita said looking concerned.

``I'm fine.'' Felix said wanting to keep moving and not talk.

``Are you sure? Maybe you need some TV time and having the fan on you to feel better.'' Rita suggested. Felix wanted to say no and go back to his room, but he was going to say yes if she wasn't going to join him.

``Will I be alone?'' He asked only now looking at her.

``As alone as you can be with the other kids outside. I won't be in the back-living room if that is what you are asking.''

``Ok.''

``Good.'' Rita turned and headed back and walked to kitchen. Felix walked his way to the back-living room, turned on a fan to blow on his face, grabbed the remote and started idling swapping stations. Rita poured a glass of cold water and came back to Felix. ``I thought you might need this though to wash that awful taste out of your mouth.'' Felix looked at her grabbed the glass and held it close, Rita left to the front living room. He drunk the cold water and the awful taste and the awful feelings out. He gulped the rest down feeling great thirst that he didn't know he had. He wanted to turn his head and ask for more, but Rita wasn't there. Felix got up and went to the kitchen, opened up the second fridge that Rita mentioned and grabbed a bottle of cold water. He unscrewed it and drunk half of it before he realized. He breathed deeply and coughed as he walked back to the lounge under the fan's beautiful gaze. The kids channel had some crappy cartoon but it was better than nothing. Felix kept watching cartoon after cartoon trying to forget emotions, to no avail. Then one cartoon came on, about a kid by day but super hero by night. Felix found the concept stupid and the character annoying, but then the episode turned to something he was not prepared for. The main character was crying about letting those around him down, saying ``I can't be everywhere at once. No matter how hard I try I will always let someone down.'' Then what came next kicked Felix while he was down, as the main character then said ``What about me? I need saving too you know. No one ever came to my rescue and no one ever saved me from my bullies. Why didn't someone look out for me back then, you know? Sometimes I wish I wasn't a super hero.''

Felix's mind was in turmoil and his eyes were watering up. At first he was mad, angry that this stupid cartoon was manipulating his emotions. Then the words kicked in. `What about me?' `No one ever came to my rescue.' `Why didn't someone look out for me.' Felix gritted his teeth as he struggled to contain himself. He didn't want to run to his room, not yet, for the lounge was comfortable and the fan was wonderful. His chest convulsed with deep sadness washing over him, he started to growl.

``It's not fucking fair.'' He growled, ``Why didn't anyone protect me when I was young? Why do I have such a crappy life? Why was I chosen? It's not fucking fair.'' He growled as his sniffed and curled his body inward into a foetal position. ``It's not fair.'' He rubbed his tears away as he tried to return to a steel resolve. Emotions burned in his chest, his gut and his head. He slowly gained his composure back and fought against his outburst of emotions.

``Hello!'' A voice came to his left, Elijah and Tobias sat down on the lounge together next to him. As he looked at them, he saw their pure innocent eyes gleam at him with Elijah's oblivious smile and Tobias's flat expression. Elijah sat with his right leg resting on the lounge with his left up standing upright as he faced Felix; Tobias sat behind him with an arm around Elijah. The word `hero' started playing in Felix's head once more, of how they see him, and then the quote from the cartoon ringing in his mind once again. Felix's face broke, his mouth quivered, his eyes twitched, his teeth chattered, his chest convulsed with aggressive grief and his eyes became hazy; he lost all control and became a sobbing mess, going so far to crying out loud. He crawled to the twins and embraced them both as he bawled his eyes out, wailing uncontrollably. Elijah, caught completely off guard, started crying as well with Tobias remaining wordless as tears came out of his eyes as well. Neither twin could ask what was going on, even Tobias couldn't form a word, as they saw their hero break down before them without warning. Eliza came running from outside hearing Felix cry, fearing something bad had happened. She stood in the sliding doorway and was frozen, she had never seen him cry like this, ever. She held Mary by an arm as she stood limped armed. She saw movement from the kitchen and saw Rita and Nathan watching, also wordless. Felix continued to cry as he leaned into the twins as he held them close. Soon Felix started crying out words.

``WHHHHYY!?'' Felix cried, causing Nathan to walk over. ``WHY DID NO ONE LOOK OUT FOR ME!?'' Felix continued, Nathan knelt down before Felix and the twins with Eliza only now moving around Felix. ``IT'S NOT FAAIR!!!'' Felix started to shake the twins as he yelled. Nathan looked over at Rita and gestured to her to come over, he sighed and reached out a hand to Felix. Felix's shuddered as he felt Felix graze his fur, he turned and looked at Nathan.

``Felix...'' Nathan said with empathy and care.

``WHAT!? WHY!?'' Felix continued to yell in his emotional breakdown.

``We saved you, we saved you.''

``A BIT FUCKING LATE!!'' Felix growled, he started to cough. Tobias and Elijah looked at their father with confusion and `we are lost' all over their faces. Eliza sat down behind Felix and grabbed him from behind for a hug, Felix did not react negatively. ``It should have happened fucking YEARS ago.'' Felix cried, only now he isn't shouting.

``We came when we could, Felix. You are in a nice house now. You are safe.''

``It should have happened YEARS ago!'' Felix cried, his eye and mouth still twitching.

``I know, Felix. I'm sorry. Please let go of the twins, they're confused and overwhelmed.'' Felix breathed heavily as his sobbed, he slowly let go of the twins who stared in silence and completely still. Rita grabbed both of them and lifted them up, both still crying but without sound. Felix remained hunched forward as his body tensed up, he watched the twins be held by Rita and his heart ached more.

``Why is your family so perfect? Why was mine so shit?'' Felix sobbed, ``It's not fair. What did I do to deserve my bad families, why do I deserve yours?'' Nathan moved closer and held a hand close to Felix to hold, he did not dare to try to touch yet alone hug Felix.

``You've done nothing wrong, Felix. You've never done anything to deserve what you've been through. The ones who mistreated you are the ones who decided your life.'' Nathan's eyes looked to the point of crying as he heartfeltly tried to give an acceptable answer to a very emotional boy. ``You haven't done anything to make us choose you two to live with us either. `We' chose for you two to come live with us, and we are very sorry we couldn't have gotten you two any faster.'' Felix tears started rolling again as he broke down even more, he lunged to Nathan and embraced into him to hide his tears. Eliza let go of Felix as he stretched too far for her to hold on, so she moved closer and continued to hug him. Felix wailed, screamed and sobbed uncontrollably as he cried into Nathan; Nathan only now putting an arm around him and a hand at the back of Felix's head. Felix screamed muffled words that Nathan could only understand as ``it's not fair'' continuously, his body shaking erratically with every scream. Nathan had a brainstorm and it was now or never to try to comfort Felix, if it doesn't then at least Felix will get angry and uncomfortable rather than emotional. Nathan stood up and lifted Felix up to hold him up like he would to a baby, cradling Felix in his arms; Eliza letting go as Felix went up. Felix squirmed and looked around feeling freaked out and confused.

``What are you doing!?'' Felix said as he wanted to squirm and break free.

``When the twins can't settle down, they like being carried. Makes them feel secure and loved.'' Nathan said looking forward, to not make Felix anymore uncomfortable by looking at him.

``This is fucking weird.'' Felix said as he locked himself into position, fearing that Nathan will drop him.

``Put your left arm around my neck to help with your balance.'' Nathan recommended, Felix doing so quickly and only feeling slightly better about this embarrassing predicament. Nathan gently swayed Felix humming a song, Felix rested his head against Nathan and shivered as he sobbed; the song was sweet but Felix's stubbornness thought it was dumb. Felix was far heavier than the twins but Nathan pretended as if he could take it, the adrenaline of doing something out of the ordinary carrying his strength. Nathan turned and faced Rita who held both the twins from under them as they held onto her shoulders, she smiled as the twin's shocked faces were only just relaxing. Eliza got up from the lounge and moved to stand next to Nathan, looking up at Felix with worry. Nathan moved Felix around the room as he held onto him, Felix sniffed and shook as he sobbed.

``You can put me down now.'' Felix sniffed; 5 minutes had passed. Nathan carefully put Felix back down on his two feet, Felix sniffed and took a seat on the lounge once more.

``How are you feeling, Felix?''

``Do me do me!'' Eliza interjected, jumping up and down. Nathan groaned as he stretched his back and then nodded, he picked up Eliza and she wrapped an arm around Nathan's neck for balance; just like what Felix did.

``I'm feeling better.'' Felix said with a shudder, his body was still shaking, his head was hot and his gut was empty; but he wasn't as emotional as he was before. The twins calmed down and were processing things once more, poked Rita to put them down. Once down the twins walked up to Felix and stood before him, Elijah had a sad look to him while Tobias looked normal. ``Sorry about before.'' Felix sighed looking at the twins. Just the very mention of `sorry' put the oblivious smile onto Elijah's face and a spring to his tail.

``We love you.'' Tobias said, his face was exhausted as if he had a fever.

``I love you two too.'' Felix said.

``Alright you two we're gonna go for a walk.'' Rita said in her jolly tone, Elijah and Tobias turned around with both of them shaking their head. ``Oh, come on you two I'm probably going to be carrying you two a bunch of the way. Let's get some fresh air.'' The twins followed Rita holding hands as she walked to the front door, a much-needed exit for Felix. Nathan put Eliza down and so she could sit next to him, she clutched Mary close.

``I know you are probably exhausted, and you probably still feel like garbage. But, do you want to talk about this?'' Nathan said as he sat on a separate chair. Felix didn't respond at first, he felt so drained and emotionally exhausted. After a moment, Felix looked up at Nathan and then back down with a shrug.

``Fine. I just...'' Felix still could feel his gut wrenching and his freaking out, it made thinking even harder. ``I lost it.''

``What happened?'' Nathan asked trying to get the bigger picture.

``There was this stupid cartoon on the TV, dumb kid super hero. He was complaining that he never gets saved, he can't save everyone and blah blah blah...'' Felix leaned back into the lounge, ``With the twins calling me a hero, like I don't really care too much, I think. But it made me think of me, how I wish I had a hero. No one was really there for me growing up, I was either being yelled at, punched, treated like shit and molested. I dreamed for someone to save me, only to wake up to the fucking homes I lived in.'' Explained Felix, he pulled his legs in and crossed his arms. ``It fucking hurts. Remembering everything and worse, it hurts that no one fucking `cared'. Noah was only interested in one thing and made me feel like the one way I `could' be happy is if I let him. Fucking liar.'' Felix sniffed and hunched himself into a ball. ``To be called a hero, just made me wish I had one.''

``You've been through so much Felix... I can definitely see why and how you reacted the way you did.'' Nathan said, he leaned forward to get a better look at Felix.

``You fucking telling me that you are my saviours, it fucking hurts...''

``If we knew of you way earlier, we would have jumped many hoops to take you from harm.'' Nathan sighed and then looked at Eliza. ``But then, you wouldn't have met Eliza. I'm not sure we would have found both of you otherwise.'' Felix started to whine as tears started to flow and he attempts of keeping himself strong.

``Life is so fucking unfair.'' Felix sniffed, ``For both of us.'' Felix turned to Eliza to only see her shaking in her arms.

``That's why Rita and I are trying so hard to help you two, to give you two the things you deserved and never got. We only wish we could have gotten you too sooner. But any time is better than never. It was a possibility that we would never have seen you two up for adoption.''

``And you would have gotten someone else.'' Felix said now looking Nathan in the eyes.

``Maybe. Rita and I weren't really looking to adopt, but when we heard of two kids that desperately need a home and to be taken in together, we got serious in our discussions and planning's. If we didn't hear about you two, I don't know if we could have adopted you two in time.''

``But didn't you say you were thinking about adoptions?''

``We were, but we weren't convinced.'' Nathan smiled and his eyes took a kind and nurturing shape, ``And we are so glad we adopted you two. It will be hard on all of us, but mostly you two and we accepted that. Seeing you two in our home, in well deserved comfort and love makes us truly happy. It's why we keep staring at you two, because we're so glad we saved you two; if that is an appropriate word to say.'' Felix's eyes could not contain themselves and kept on crying, he looked down in an awkward silence. ``And we mean it, we are so glad that we adopted you two.''

``Thank you, thank you so much.'' Felix said barely holding himself from bursting into loud cries, Eliza hugged Felix and rested her head on him.

``Thank youuu.'' Eliza said also, she wanted to say so much but could never find the words. She hated how stuck and silent she gets when Felix is crying. Nathan reached a hand and stroked Eliza's check and chin, lifting it up.

``You two are most welcome. Keep your chins high, you two. You can't be sad forever, because Rita and I won't let you be. There's a lot that we and life can give you two.'' Nathan said, he got off his chair and crouched before them. ``Besides, have I told you two how much I don't like crouching like this. I've done this quite a lot for the twins and you two.''

``Then why do it?'' Felix asked feeling puzzled.

``Because it allows me to be right there where I need to be. I don't expect eye contact, but being close and down to a kid's level makes it personal and interactive with what I say, as well as what I hear back. If I wasn't personal with what I say and do, it would mean that I don't care. Besides, parents have to deal with pain and discomfort for their kids. It's a normal thing, I just do it in a certain way.''

``That kind of makes sense, but makes you weird.''

``I like it.'' Eliza said smiling widely, ``Makes me feel like you truly love me- us.''

``Don't be afraid to say `me', Eliza.'' Nathan's sweet smile making Eliza feeling warm and fuzzy. ``Saying `me' about a positive thing regarding you makes you feel special. It's perfectly ok to say `us' in regards to you and Felix. But sometimes it feels nice to say `me', makes it personal. Ido wish the twins do that more, but. They do what they do.'' Nathan put one knee to the ground to kneel with the other. ``But I have to ask one thing, so we are completely clear between us. Felix, you really don't like being touched?'' Felix looked at Nathan with discomfort and then away.

``I really don't like it, makes me feel weird and sets my bad moods off.''

``And you're perfectly fine with Eliza and the twins?''

``Because they're not adults.'' Felix said with a stern look, his tears drying away.

``I thought so.'' Nathan smiled, ``While we would love to hug you to make you feel better, it would be best when you decide on when that happens, wouldn't it? Like before, I you hugged me so tightly.''

``Makes sense, what of it?''

``I'm just trying to understand.'' Nathan smiled with a half chuckle. ``I'm sorry that this is making you uncomfortable. It's important we get the ground rules out so all is comfortable, working with other kids I have to do that since a lot of them have different needs.'' Felix's eyes got intense and suspicious looking as Nathan said that. ``Felix, not like that. I mean special needs, learning difficulties, delayed learning, autism. Not anything like what you got spooked about just now.''

``Good.'' Felix said with a shiver, he rested his head against Eliza's.

``And you, Eliza. What are your boundaries?'' Nathan said facing Eliza. Eliza stared in puzzlement and then looked to Felix for help. ``Ok Eliza, what are you comfortable with and not comfortable with? When it comes to contact with other people like Rita and I, or the twins, another kid you don't know, a stranger? I'm sure some of the answers are obvious.'' Nathan explained, Eliza looked down as she thought deeply and then holding Mary out to talk.

``-We don't know. We love being hugged, by you and mum. Love hugs from Felix. Love hugs from twins-.'' Eliza's Mary voice croaked; ``-We don't like others. No touch, scared, really scared, angry-.'' Mary elaborated.

``She hates elephants, like Hanna. Absolutely scared and hates them.'' Felix added, not bothering to make eye contact, Eliza nodded in a state of panic. Nathan nodded and smiled with a sigh.

``Yes, I remember that. So, from what I'm getting, Eliza, you love being hugged by me and Rita, Felix and the twins. But you would not like it with others, especially if they're an elephant. Can I ask one question though?'' Nathan careful tone was strong with him keeping note, Eliza nodded back as to say `go ahead.' ``Why were you so eager to hug Rita and I when we first met? You hardly knew us but all you wanted were hugs and love.'' Eliza looked at Nathan at first in discomfort, then in a thinking state, then smiled and giggled in a nervous tone.

``-We were hopeful. Scared, very scared, but hopeful-.''

``If I may share my theory?'' Felix asked, he stopped resting his head against Eliza to face her, she nodded back. ``You were desperate for love, not as much as you were desperate that they were good.'' Felix's tired and worn-down tone was strong in his words, Eliza nodded back erratically with a few involuntary giggles.

``Oh, Eliza.'' Nathan said with emotional pity, he moved over and hugged Eliza who squeezed him tight back. ``Now I got to go lie down, I just got home.'' Nathan let go of Eliza and slowly stood up, both Felix and Eliza could hear his bones crack.

``Yeesh.'' Commented Felix, ``That sounds like it hurt.'' Nathan looked down to Felix with his hands straightening out his lower back, Nathan grinned.

``On the contrary, that felt amazing.'' Nathan chuckled as he walked away.

``Can we play the x-box? I forget if I have to ask for permission.'' Felix asked before Nathan disappeared.

``Then depends on what you play, if Eliza will join you then I'll have to be present.'' Nathan replied, Felix looked to Eliza who was eager to play.

``I wanna play Halo again.'' Eliza said with a smile, Nathan turned around and in a tired laugh he nodded.

``I guess I'll be lounging with you two then. I'm going to need the long bit to lie down though, that's all I'll ask.''

``Yeah sure.'' Felix said as he got off the spot that Nathan requested, he got down and grabbed the controllers and turned the console on. Nathan sat down, took his shoes off, laid back on the lounge as Felix and Eliza played Halo. As they played a new level, Felix turned to Eliza with a mix of serious and sorry eyes. ``I'm sorry about before.'' Eliza grinned and then frowned momentarily; she was struggling to figure out how to feel about his remark.

``It's ookie.''

``No it's not. I know it bothers you a lot, I'm sorry.'' Eliza took a moment and then slowly nodded back.

``-It upsets us so much, so confused and scared. Worried-.'' Eliza said in Mary's voice, she held Mary up for assistance.

``I knew it. I love you- oh shit there's a lot of grunts here.'' Felix said as he snapped his attention to the game, Eliza laughed focused on the game too. Nathan crossed his arms as he laid back trying to relax. When Rita and the twins came back it had been 30 minutes, it was time to cook dinner.

``How are you lot going huh?'' Rita said as she walked up, Nathan looked up at her and smiled.

``Things are fine, love.'' Nathan then checked his watch and sighed with an added groan. ``I'm sorry, I should probably be thinking about dinner.''

``Nah, I'll cook.''

``You sure?'' As Nathan and Rita discussed dinner plans Felix paused the game.

``Wouldn't ordering pizza be easy?'' Felix said with a shrug, Rita laughed and walked over behind the lounge.

``We can't have pizza all the time, no matter how tempting it is.'' Rita rested her head on Nathan as she rubbed his chest. ``So, I reckon we should have steak and salad.''

``Mmm... how about a BBQ?''

``Ooh a BBQ does sound nice, would be a nice change from having it on a day that isn't Saturday.''

``I can do it, if you do the salad.''

``Bah!'' Rita laughed and then started tickling Nathan, who tried to push her arms away. Felix watched in shock while Eliza laughed. ``I will do the BBQ, you will do the salad. You know how much I hate cutting up salad, don't you dare tease me.'' Rita laughed, she removed herself from Nathan and went straight to the kitchen with Nathan breathless in amusement.

``Alright, alright.'' Nathan smirked, he turned to Felix and Eliza. ``Now, could you two play a different game? Something the twins could watch?'' Nathan asked as he saw the twins come over.

``But we haven't finished the level yet.'' Eliza complained,

``I know I know, but the twins should not watch Halo. Please put in another game, like...'' Nathan got off the lounge with some stiff movements and went to the game pile. He grabbed one and showed it to them. ``Like this one, Star Wars Knights of the old republic. I know it should be fine, the twins will love watching you two play it.'' He handed the box to Felix who looked over it immediately.

``But this game isn't two-player.'' Felix said with an unamused look.

``It isn't? I'm sorry,''

``I mean I still want to play it; we can take turns?'' Felix said looking at Eliza, she shook her head at first before thinking, then changed her attitude to a nod.

``Thank you, you two. I much appreciate it.'' Nathan left to the kitchen as Rita went past with a tray of meat. Nathan put the game in and sat back down, both he and Eliza were eager to see this one. They've seen a Star Wars movie so they had an idea of what it was going to look like. Felix and Eliza decided on a male character and chose the name `Elix' after a short discussion; Eliza and Felix combined together. As Felix played, they voted on what responses to give, getting a chuckle at the reactions of the NPCs. The twins walked over and sat on the lounge, Elijah excited and engrossed in what was on the TV while Tobias stared intently in silence.

``What's this?'' Elijah asked looking excited,

``It's er... a Star Wars game, Star Wars Knights of the old republic.'' Felix handed the box to the twins, Elijah looked at it and tried his best to make sense of it. Tobias wrapped an arm around him and pressed his head against Elijah looking at the box. Tobias read out and explained what he understood, allowing Elijah to understand.

``This looks freaking cool!'' Elijah yelled in excitement.

``I know right?'' Felix added, Tobias clutched close to Elijah as they watched on the lounge. Occasionally he would sniff and breathe deeply of Elijah's fur and hair, something Felix could hear. ``Hey, so why are you smelling Elijah?'' Felix asked offhandedly, Tobias looked up with a plain expression that Felix couldn't tell if he was bothered or not.

``I love to smell Elijah, he smells nice.''

``He likes smells!'' Elijah added,

``Good smells, sweet smells. Like mum, like dad, like mum's perfume, like dad's perfume, like flowers, like you.'' Tobias added.

``He looooves mummy's perfume.'' Elijah giggled,

``He loves daddy's perfume.''

``Wait, me?'' Felix looked positively confused, yet not worried a bit.

``Both of you. You smell nice, different, good. Makes me feel good, calm, safe.''

``Oh ok. What about you?'' Felix asked Elijah, he giggled and nodded vigorously causing Tobias to shake about as he held onto him.

``I like good smells, but he likes them more. We smell each other a lot!''

``Makes us happy.''

``Very, very happy!'' Elijah giggled as he leaned back against Tobias who pulled him close to lie down.

``We like the smells.'' Tobias repeated, breathing deeply into Elijah who continued giggle and fidget in compliance. Soon the two swapped places allowing Elijah to hold Tobias from behind to breath him deeply.

``You want to smell?'' Elijah offered; Felix shook his head immediately to hide his sudden discomfort.

``No thanks.''

``Tomorrow? We smell nice, you will love to smell us.'' Elijah pressed, Felix trying to focus himself on the game.

``Don't push him, Elijah.'' Nathan called out, ``He doesn't have to if he doesn't want to. It doesn't mean he doesn't love you; it means he isn't comfortable so don't get upset.'' Elijah and Tobias turned their heads back to Nathan in the kitchen, Elijah lowered his head in sadness with Tobias nodding in understanding. Felix felt immediate relief and looked over to Nathan cutting tomatoes in the kitchen, he appreciated Nathan for coming in to stop them. Then it hit him, and it really hit him, that Nathan really was looking out for him. He knew that he was trying to, he just suspected Nathan's bad intentions. Then it sunk in, Nathen really is looking out for him and cares about him; even though the feeling is so foreign. He looked at Nathan and for the first time in his life he felt remote comfort and love towards him, even though the rest of him was screaming to keep his distance. Felix smiled as he watched Nathan before becoming self-conscious and anxious, he turned to Eliza for her turn to play. Dinner came with a tray full of cooked sausages, steakettes, eggs and cooked onion. Nathan added his salad try to the table which had lettuce, tomatoes, shredded carrot and sliced cucumber. Bread and buns were also on the table with tomato sauce and margarine to go with; to Felix and Eliza it looked like a feast. Felix and Eliza paused their game and sat in their usual spots like everyone else, Rita distributed sausages and the steakettes around while Nathan distributed the salad. Felix ate as much as he could, forgetting that he threw up before causing him to be far hungrier than he expected; Eliza too ate a lot.

When dinner was over, Felix and the other three sat back at the lounge to continue the game while Nathan and Rita cleaned up. Tobias clung to Elijah from behind and rested his chin on Elijah's shoulder as they watched, neither of them really have been exposed to video games before. Tobias felt Elijah's fur all over as he rested against him causing Elijah to giggle every so often. It was like seeing another cat kneading another. Felix and Eliza kept taking turns as they played, but suddenly it was 8pm already as a boom could be felt.

``8 o'clock rock!'' Elijah yelled, he rolled back to lay over Tobias.

``Ffffff... 8 already?'' Felix said in disbelieve, only barely holding back a swear.

``Unfortunately, it is yeah.'' Nathan said as he walked up to the kids, he looked down with a smile shaking his head at the twins. Elijah stuck his tongue out with Tobias underneath him. ``Come on you two, let's get you two washed up and ready for bed.'' Nathan said to the twins, Tobias finally let go of Elijah allowing him to be freed from being laid upon. Elijah stood up and waited for Tobias before holding hands and following Nathan. Nathan poured the bath and helped strip the boys as they chatted to each other in their special language. When the bath was finally ready, Nathan told them it was time to hop in. Once they were in the tub, Nathan knelt before them with shampoo and conditioner at the ready. ``Can you two take turns at washing each other with soap while I wash your hair, please?'' Nathan asked, the twins were more than happy to oblige; they loved cleaning each other and also loved having their hair washed by their Dad. The twins continued to talk in their special language, occasionally going back into English for a short moment. Nathan first washed Elijah's hair and used rose scented shampoo, Elijah enjoyed the smell but it was Tobias who loved smelling the most. When it was Tobias's turn, Nathan grabbed a pomegranate and raspberry shampoo for Tobias. Tobias chose the bottle when shopping, deciding on it because the bottle was purple; Elijah loves how it smells on Tobias. Nathan washed and cleaned both of the boys' hair and grabbed the conditioner bottles for each of them; a rose scented bottle for Elijah and a pomegranate and raspberry for Tobias. Unbeknown to Nathan and the twins was a watching Felix, silently watching around the corner. As Nathan and the twins left his anxiety peaked with `what if' questions, fearing of the possibilities and had to be sure. He watched as Nathan washed the twin's hair while he engaged with them in small talk, asking how their day was before being ignored when they start talking in their special language together. Felix was worried that something Nathan didn't want him to see when it came to bath time, but as Felix learned there wasn't anything suspicious to be seen. Nathan stood up with his shirt and pants wet, stretched his back; he was done. ``There we go boys, now have you two cleaned each other well?''

``I don't know.'' Tobias replied looking up at Nathan, his wet hair making him look particularly emo to Felix.

``Do you two want me to wash you two?'' Nathan asked,

``Yes.''

``Yes what?'' Nathan said with a hand to his ear, waiting to hear something extra.

``Yes please.'' Tobias replied with Elijah giggling.

``There we go. I'm more than happy to,'' Nathan said with a grunt, kneeling back down to the floor. He held his hand out and was given the soap from the twins. He began to wash all over their bodies as the twins chatted. Felix watched intently, bracing himself, holding his breath. Nathan worked on one boy at a time, lifting arms up to clean underneath, washing under, between and over their legs before washing their backs. Once the washing was done, Nathan grabbed an empty container and swooped up some of the bath water before pouring over each of the boys' heads.

``Yay! Again!'' Elijah yelled, Nathan grabbed more water and poured it over Elijah's head.

``Alright you two, I'll leave you for now.'' Nathan said as he stood back up using the side of the bath to balance himself. Before Nathan turned around Felix removed himself from his hiding spot and walked quietly but quickly back to the living room. Felix sat back down in the living room and continued to watch Eliza play the game. Nathan turned the corner with the lower part of his shirt wet. ``Gidday you two, how's that going?'' Nathan said as he walked into the kitchen.

``Good! I levelled up!'' Eliza called back with a grin,

``That's great. What level are you?''

``Level 4.''

``That's great.'' Nathan smiled back, grabbing a drink from the fridge. ``Now the twins are in the bath but they can hop out whenever you two want to hop in.'' Nathan drunk from a glass of cold water, Eliza handed the controller to Felix and looked over.

``You're wet!'' Eliza laughed, Nathan looked down and then leaned into the counter to hide his shirt.

``No, I'm not!'' Nathan replied putting on a joke face.

``Yes, you are!'' Teased Eliza.

``Ok maybe I am. I had to help wash the twins.''

``Why don't they do it themselves?'' Felix asked as he turned his head over.

``Well, they enjoy it when Rita or I do it. That's all. Besides they aren't very good at making themselves clean so they need the help.'' Nathan said as he stood up straight once more. Nathan stretched and yawned, rubbing his back in the process. Nathan left the kitchen to his room to have a shower of his own, leaving Eliza and Felix alone.

``So, where were you?'' Eliza asked looking at Felix, his expression wasn't doing a good job of making it look like `nothing'.

``I was watching him clean them.'' Felix said with a bit of delay, he turned to Eliza and sighed. ``I was worried ok? Nothing bad happened, but I had to be sure.'' Admitted Felix, Eliza looked at him with a tilt of her head.

``They're nice.''

``I know, I know. I know they aren't Noah and Hanna I just... I can't help it, Eliza.'' With that said Eliza nodded, she understood enough, they continued to play their game. As Nathan walked into his bedroom Rita was lying on the bed watching TV.

``Did you know that Felix was watching you?'' Rita asked as he got to the ensuite bathroom, Nathan turned around and was caught off guard.

``No, I didn't.'' Nathan said as he took his tie off.

``He was down the hallway watching from around the corner.'' Rita explained, Nathan sighed.

``I had no idea; I was too focused on cleaning the twins. Did you say anything to him?''

``No, I didn't even let him know I saw him. Didn't want to spook the poor fella.'' Rita said as she grabbed a water bottle on the bedside table to drink.

``Good idea, but. I really didn't know he was there. When I came out, he wasn't there and sitting next to Eliza.''

``Hah, the boy was too quick and quiet for you.'' Rita chuckled; Nathan took his shoes off as he sat on the bed.

``Well, I don't want to bring it up. Don't want to confront him and make him uncomfortable.''

``We better tell him someday though; he can't keep doing that behind our backs. He could get in trouble doing it elsewhere.''

``I know, you're right.'' Nathan took his socks and belt off. ``Right now, I need a shower.'' Nathan grabbed his pajamas and headed for his shower. When it was done, he dried himself, dressed himself and walked down feeling fresh. ``God, I needed that.'' Nathan said as he walked around the bed to leave the room, before leaving he went over to Rita and kissed her.

``You sweet thing.'' Rita said with a smirk. Nathan left the room to check on the kids, Felix and Eliza were still playing and he didn't see the twins; they were probably still in the bath. Nathan walked past Felix and Eliza, waving at them as he past, whom also waved back. He went down the corridor to the bathroom to see, yep, the twins were still in the bath.

``Gidday you two. Think it's time to get out of the tub?'' Nathan asked as he stood in the doorway, the twins looked at him with bubbles covering their heads.

``No.'' Elijah said with a giggle,

``Come on, what about Eliza and Felix? They'll need a shower too.'' The twins looked at each other, back at Nathan and then removed the bubbles from each other's hair. They slowly got out of the bath, using each other and the bath for balance, and walked up to get their towels. ``Thank you, boys. I'll let Felix and Eliza know the bath is free.''

``Can you dry us?'' Elijah asked looking up at Nathan, Nathan turned and smiled.

``Yeah, I can do that.'' Nathan said in a soft voice, he came over, grabbed Elijah's towel and started to dry him. Nathan wasn't all that eager to dry his sons, but he obliged in it knowing that they'll at least be dry. That and he gets to spend more time with them, as he knows someday, he will miss these moments. He dried them both as best as he could, squeezing their faces with the towel as he dried them. Through this he got the biggest smile out of Tobias ever, even if it wasn't genuine. Once the boys were dried he helped them get dressed and then headed back to Felix and Eliza. ``Hey you two, the bath is waiting for you. Get it while it's not cold.'' Nathan said as he turned the corner, both Eliza and Felix were still engrossed in the game. ``Felix, Eliza. I think you two should have your bath.'' Nathan said in a slightly sterner voice, Eliza paused the game and got Felix to pay attention.

``Can we have our bath later?'' Felix asked,

``What? And get a cold bath in return?'' Mused Nathan.

``It's hot anyway, what's the problem? Besides we want to keep playing.'' Nathan then quickly realized what was happening, both of them were already addicted to the game. `That is alright, they need something to help forget things' Nathan thought, `I hope I have not got you two addicted though.'

``No, I think you two should have a shower now, that way you can keep playing it before going to bed.'' Nathan rationalized to them,

``But I really want to keep playing.'' Felix complained,

``Yeah, we like playing this a lot.'' Eliza added.

``Felix, Eliza.'' Nathan said even sterner, getting them both to pay attention. ``I suggest you two have a bath and come back.''

``Oh alright.'' Felix complained, Eliza put the controller down and the both of them walked off to have their bath. Nathan sighed and shook his head as they disappeared, `Yep, they are definitely addicted to it.' Nathan turned around and went to check in on the twins, who both were in their room lying on the bed belly first together. They were kicking their feet as they chatted about the game that both Felix and Eliza were playing, making noise effects and giggling at it. Nathan sighed as he smiled looking at his twins, it was the simplest of things to witness that made him happy; even if they too are probably already hooked on the game Eliza and Felix were playing. Nathan checked the time and saw it was close to bedtime for the twins, it was an earlier night for them as tomorrow they had to go to school. The twins only went on every other day for school as it was a pattern that they focused better on Tuesday and Thursdays the most, Nathan has been trying to get them to school on Friday though. The fact he is able to get them to learn anything at school is a blessing with how easily distracted and uninterested they can become. But on those two days especially they enjoy studying. Nathan even gets the pleasure to teach them from time to time at school, as it was obvious that they were more willing to learn from him than if it was their teacher Ms Bowden; but that was not to say they didn't enjoy learning with her. Nathan walked into the boys' room and grabbed a book from a shelf as he prepared to read them a story before sleep.

``Hey you two, ready for your bedtime story?'' Nathan asked with a sweet smile, Elijah looked up with an excited expression, Tobias looked up too but his unreadable face was staying. They both got in their bed, under the sheets and had an arm around the other's neck for comfort. Nathan grabbed a chair in their room and sat down on it with the book in hand. Nathan began to read; it was the same story the boys loved. Most nights he reads this book, `Meg and Mog', to them as they never ever got tired of listening to it; especially when Nathan does the voices. Meg and Mog was a short picture-oriented story about a witch, a black cat and a owl called `Owl' as they went on in their life. Making a brew, being in a castle and making breakfast. Elijah would giggle as Nathan did the voices and told the story, Tobias would occasionally smile while his eyes looked rested and calm.

Felix and Eliza bathed at a good time, the water was warm enough for them while been cooler than normal. They both washed themselves and chatted about the game they were hooked on, discussing on what to do next, how to react to a certain bad character and the funny moment that just happened. They washed themselves extra fast tonight so they could get dressed and get back to it. Once dried and dressed they walked together chatting and stopped at the twin's room, hearing Nathan doing weird voices to them. Felix and Eliza looked in the room and saw Nathan on a chair before the twins reading from a book, Elijah especially looked happy while Tobias was gradually looking happy. Eliza had never seen a bedtime story before, Felix stood in silence as he watched feeling a sense of sadness; he watched and heard it before but never had it happen to him. Felix snapped out of his sadness as he quickly decided that it doesn't matter, he was too old for it, oh well. As he went to leave Eliza stayed at the door listening in, she began to laugh at Nathan's silly voices, getting the attention of him. As Nathan stopped and faced her, she suddenly felt a sense of she shouldn't be here. As they started to leave, Nathan called out to her to stop and began to reassure her.

``Hey, Eliza it's ok. Are you alright, darling''? Nathan called out; Eliza had almost left entirely as Felix stood at the end of the corridor waiting for her. She poked her head back in the twin's room and looked at them in uncertainty. ``I was just reading the boys a bedtime story. Would you like to join, or perhaps I can read you one later before bed?'' Asked Nathan, Elijah stuck his hand out under the sheets and waved erratically at Eliza who smiled back.

``That sounds nice. What is it?'' Eliza said feeling shy,

``A bedtime story is just me reading you a story from a book, I read this one to the twins `every night'. Don't I boys?'' Nathan said with a smirk, Elijah giggled as a response while Tobias nodded. ``Later on, I will get a chair next to your bed and read to you. Is that something you would like?'' Eliza nodded with a toothy grin. Felix breathed deeply as he stood at the end of the corridor looking away, he turned back to face Eliza and felt this nagging urge to tell her to hurry up. Eliza kept talking to Nathan and it was getting on his nerves. ``Hey, Felix?'' Nathan called out,

``What?'' Felix replied sounding deeply uninterested.

``Would you like to join Eliza and I later on for a bedtime story?''

``I'm too old for that.'' Felix said with a half-snapped tone, Eliza turned and looked at him with begging eyes; Felix sighed as he felt like he had to relent. ``Fine.'' Felix answered once more getting Eliza happy once more, ``Can we go back to the xbox now?'' Felix said impatiently at Eliza, who nodded happily as she waved at Nathan and the twins once again. Nathan resumed the story once they both left, thankfully the twins weren't unhappy at all for the delay. Eliza and Felix resumed their game and instantly became hooked once again. Once Nathan was finished reading the book, he kissed both Elijah and Tobias on the forehead; their eyes closing and ready to fall asleep. He put his chair back, turned off the lights and closed the door as he left. He held onto the book still, he hoped to himself that this is something Eliza wanted him to read. He didn't even know if she or Felix have ever been read to before bed; but he guessed not, leaving a small pit of sadness inside him. He turned the corner and saw both of them at the lounge still playing. Nathan looked at the time and felt he had to give them more time before getting them to bed. He sat down next to them, both of them acknowledged him but were more focused on playing.

``So, I take it you two love this game?'' Nathan asked,

``It's so good, but the loading times are awful.'' Felix replied,

``Ah that's no good.'' Nathan said, it was small talk but it wasn't awkward for any of them. ``I'm letting you two play this for a little while longer. Afterwards I'll give you two a bedtime story.''

``I honestly don't think I'll enjoy it, I'm too old. I only said yes because of Eliza.'' Felix admitted.

``That's alright, Felix. Well we'll see how it goes in about... 20 minutes, does that sound alright?''

``Yeah sure.''

``I look forward to it! -What exactly is a bedtime story-?'' Asked Eliza and Mary,

``It's simply just a story being read to you, to help you sleep. I got the book I was reading to the twins just now, but I got an idea for another book to read if you really don't want it, Felix.''

``Noo, read it.'' Eliza said with a pout,

``I will, Eliza. Don't worry.'' Nathan said with a smile, ``I just got an idea for afterwards. Something I did for the boys on the very, very, very rare case that they didn't want me to read them this book.''

``Wait, they get you to read the same book every night?'' Said Felix looking a bit puzzled.

``Almost every night. They really love this book, and my guess they love it because they know it so well, they like things that are familiar.''

``Don't you get tired of it?''

``Well... maybe a bit. That's why I do the voices, helps me keep doing it.'' Nathan said with a smile, ``I'll be quiet now as I watch, ok?''

``Sounds good.'' Felix said as he turned back to the TV. Nathan watched as he tried to figure out what was going on, but he only understood some of the plot; in the end he gave up and just watched. When 20 minutes had passed, Nathan told them it was time to save and hop off. Felix and Eliza complied with Nathan's request and then got ready to go to bed.

``Now which room am I going to read in? I assume you two want to be together.'' Nathan asked,

``My room I guess.'' Felix said looking at Eliza, he shrugged and she nodded back. ``Do you want to sleep with me?'' Felix asked towards Eliza. She paused for a moment with shame flushing across her face, she felt awful. ``It's ok, Eliza. Geeze. Don't be embarrassed.''

``But y-you wanted to sleep a-alone.'' She replied back with a stammer,

``I think it's a great idea, for now. I get the feeling that Felix would like to sleep alone, but he too also feels safer with you. Isn't that right?'' Rationalized Nathan, Felix looked up at him, back to Eliza and nodded.

``Basically.''

``If you wet Felix's bed tonight, perhaps we'll be needing something extra to prevent that. Like some Pull Ups.''

``What's a Pull Ups?''

``A Pull Ups is like a nappy, er, diaper.'' Nathan corrected himself, knowing that these two wouldn't know what a nappy is. Eliza looked away feeling worse by the second. ``It will help you out in the long run, Eliza. You won't be wetting the bed if you got that on.''

``I feel bad.'' Eliza said as she quivered, Nathan crouched down to her level and spread his arms out to offer a hug. Eliza slowly came in for a hug and Nathan rubbed her back in reassurance.

``It's ok, Eliza. This will pass, someday you won't need them. But this won't happen if you don't wet Felix's bed tonight. If all you need is the security of your big brother then you won't need them.'' Nathan said, his voice and words were incredibly reassuring to Eliza.

``Ok.'' Eliza replied, she let go of Nathan and smiled faintly as she clutched Mary close.

``Now go brush your teeth and go to the toilet you two.'' Nathan said as he stood up, Felix and Eliza went and brushed their teeth and waited in Felix's room. Nathan came into their room holding a chair and the book he read to the twins, ``Gidday you two. I'm going to be sitting about here, so hop in bed you two.'' Nathan said as he placed the chair a bit away from the bed, he turned on the fan so they wouldn't get too hot in bed. Eliza and Felix got into bed and Nathan started reading. As Nathan read Eliza smiled widely, Felix listened as much as he could, even though he wasn't too into it. When Nathan finished the book, Felix felt relief that it was over. It wasn't bad it was just not something he wanted; it didn't help that he still feels sad that he never had this until now.

``Again!'' Eliza said with a laugh, Nathan shook his head smiling back.

``Not you too.'' Nathan laughed. ``But I got another book to read and I'm going to need your help you two.'' Felix rested his head on an arm as he laid on his side, he looked over Nathan and saw no other book.

``Where's the other book?'' Felix asked, he sighed to himself.

``I don't see no other book too.'' Eliza added. Nathan put the book he held on the ground and then put his hands together like he was going to pray.

``This is a special book that I read to the twins every so often, it's the book of wishes and dreams.'' Nathan opened his hands and held them out as if they were a book, Eliza and Felix looked puzzled at Nathan.

``This is kinda,''

``Silly.'' Felix and Eliza said after another.

``Aw, there's nothing wrong with playing with the make believe. Now,'' Nathan prepared to start reading the imaginary book. ``In a house near a beach lived a little monkey, a roo, two twins and their parents. It was a day that everyone was looking forward to,'' Nathan then looked at Eliza and Felix, ``Where are we going?'' Eliza pondered for a moment with Felix uninterested to play along.

``The beach.'' Eliza finally said,

``What a great idea.'' Nathan replied, ``We all were going to the beach, we got our swin suits, some spades and buckets to make sand castles and to collect shells.''

``I want to make sand castles.'' Eliza said with eager eyes.

``We get to the beach after a short walk and we find a nice spot just for us.''

``And we make sand castles!''

``Exactly.'' Nathan smiled back, Eliza giggles; Felix could feel Eliza's tail move with excitement. ``We make a bunch of sand castles, we start with one, then make another and another. But, what's this? We found a treasure chest hidden in the sand.'' Nathan looked puzzled as he read from his hands, Felix looked at him with slight interest now. ``We then decide who opens it first, who opens it?''

``Eliza.'' Felix said, Eliza looked at him and back looking all sorts happy.

``Eliza tries to open the chest, but she can't do it by herself.''

``Felix helps.'' Eliza added,

``With the help of her big brother, Eliza opens the chest. What do you find inside the chest?''

``Gold,''

``Money is always nice.''

``What about a treasure map?'' Felix added, he was slowly getting interested. ``It's like a pirates chest right?''

``You are absolutely correct, Felix. We find a map, it's a bit too dirty for me to read. Your small young eyes would do a better job.'' Nathan, pretended to grab a piece of paper from the book and handed it over to Eliza. She looks at it and then looks at Felix,

``I can't read.''

``I can, a little bit I mean.'' Felix pretended to take the paper and then for a moment blanked out, was he seriously going to read a imaginary piece of paper.

``What does it say?'' Eliza said rolling over to look at him, Felix hesitated and then reached out to give it to Nathan. ``I don't know, I can't read it.'' He said trying to avoid doing anything. Nathan grabbed it and then after looking at the imaginary piece of paper.

``Oh no wonder we can't read it, it's dirty and a little soggy, ew.'' Nathan then proceeded to shake the imaginary paper about causing Eliza to laugh at his expressions, Felix couldn't help but smirk. ``Dirty, yucky, piece of paper.'' Nathan added, then he pulled out a magnifying glass from his pajama pocket, something neither Eliza or Felix expected.

``Whoa you have one of those?'' Felix asked,

``What is it?'' Eliza added.

``It's a magnifying glass, good to see small things that otherwise would be too hard to see. Now, let's see about this treasure map.'' Nathan paused and then nodded at it with an exaggerated thinking expression. ``I see I see; the treasure map is telling us of another treasure chest. The one we found is the smaller chest, this other chest must be bigger and better.'' He passed the magnifying glass to Felix and the treasure map to Eliza, ``Hold the map still for Felix to read the instructions of where to find it.'' Felix held the magnifying glass and looked through it with wonder,

``Your face looks so weird in this.'' Felix said with a laugh.

``Hey now...'' Nathan said trying to hold some laughter back, ``Focus on the map.''

``Alright, alright. It says look for a big rock.'' Felix said offhandedly, he didn't know what he was saying.

``Big rock? It's near our sand castle.'' Eliza gasped.

``We found the location of the treasure, I say to all of us `get your spades guys, we are going digging!'.'' Nathan said with a fake pirate voice, Eliza laughed with Felix shaking his head amused. ``We walk to the big rock nearby and we start digging. We dig, and dig, and dig, and dig until finally, we hit something under the sand.'' Nathan pretends to turn a page, ``Oh my god this chest is massive!'' Nathan said with a shocked tone and expression, Eliza laughed so loud that it hurt Felix's ears.

``Big chest!'' Eliza laughed while failing to breathe,

``How big is this chest anyway?'' Felix asked, Nathan put the fake book down and then stretched his arms out as wide as possible.

``This big! Wait, even bigger I can't stretch my arms out any further!'' Nathan waved his arms as he tried to stretch them out as far as possible, he picked up the imaginary book again. ``So, we continue to dig it out. Then the massive, hard task of getting it out of the sand. We're gonna need all of us to pull it out.''

``But we can't? If it's that big we won't be able to get it out of the sand.'' Felix added, Nathan clicked his fingers and exclaimed.

``You're right. You're absolutely right, so we need extra help.''

``We need to get one of those big thingys that dig things!''

``Now that would be an excavator. How do we get the excavator?''

``We steal it!'' Eliza laughed,

``Noooooooooo.'' Nathan said shaking his head, Eliza laughed even more. ``We can't do that.''

``Get the money from the chest, spending it on the excavator and use it.'' Answered Felix.''

``Now that's a good idea. We get the money and get one excavator.'' As Nathan finished Eliza pouted, ``Don't worry there is still gold left in the chest. Now, who drives the excavator?''

``Probably you,''

``No! Rita! She drives a truck!''

``Hm, you're right. Rita would be the right option, so. Rita gets the excavator and digs out the chest. We finally got it!'' Nathan said looking excited and accomplished, so much that Eliza and Felix felt and shared it. ``The chest is huge, my god it's big. I think we all can open it if we work together. So, we all put our hands into position and try to lift the lid up.'' Nathan paused so he could make struggling noises and even going far to re-enact of opening it up. ``We got it! The lid flies open, what's inside?'' Nathan looks at Eliza and Felix.

``So much gold.'' Eliza said with a big smile,

``And jewels. There has to be diamonds and stuff inside as well.'' Felix added.

``I wanna jump in it!''

``You want to swim in the gold and jewels?'' Nathan asked?

``Yeah!''

``Oh, that would be hard, but you get in the chest and move about it. But, with all this gold and jewels we have one finally thing to ask ourselves. What do we do with it?''

``Buy the new consoles.'' Felix said with a eager smile, Eliza nodded.

``We get a palace!''

``With a pool,''

``Yeah! We get all the good games too.'' Eliza and Felix said looking at each other, Nathan felt happy inside seeing both of them enjoying this `book'. Nathan pulled the book to a close as he let them go on about all the things they wanted to do with the money.

``And with that all said, we have reached the end of this chapter.'' Nathan said as he closed the book by putting his hands together. ``We live happily ever after for more adventures in the future.'' Nathan sighed smiling at Eliza and Felix.

``It's over?'' Eliza asked.

``No, it's not over, Eliza. The chapter is. Next time we do this we'll have a new adventure.''

``I want more gold.'' Eliza said as she squeezed Mary close.

``And we'll get more gold.'' Nathan paused as he leaned back into his chair, ``I hope you two enjoyed this.''

``It was better than I expected.'' Felix admitted, ``It's just a silly concept but I liked it.''

``I loved it.'' Eliza said as she yawned.

``That's good you two. I hope you two have a good sleep.'' Nathan stood up and moved the chair up against a wall away from them, he moved over and bent down before Eliza. ``Would you like a goodnight kiss?''

``Yes.'' Nathan moved to kiss Eliza on the forehead but Eliza moved her head up, instinctually thinking she had to be kissed on the lips. Nathan stopped short and then moved up more to kiss her forehead.

``What about you, Felix?''

``No thanks.''

``Alright, sleep well you two. And remember, Eliza. If you have a bad dream or are afraid in the dark. Remember that Felix is there and he will protect you. Goodnight you two.'' Nathan said with a smile, Eliza nodded softly back. The door was closed and all was dark and quiet, Eliza yawned and closed her eyes to sleep. As Felix and Eliza slept nothing bad happened, Eliza didn't wet Felix's bed and neither had a terrifying nightmare; all was actually well.

=========

Roughly a decade and a half in the future, Eliza and Felix woke up in their bed in their shared house. It was time to get ready for work, for the both of them. Felix made coffee and Eliza made breakfast. Felix stood tall above Eliza who smiled up at him with his earrings dangling.

``How'd you sleep?'' Felix asked as he grabbed the coffee pot,

``I slept good. I look forward for soccer practice.'' Eliza replied excitedly, ``What about you?''

``I slept fine.'' Felix paused for a moment, ``I had a dream of when Nathan read to us, from the imaginary book.''

``Oh, I loved that book.''

``So, do I. I hope he and Rita are doing alright.''

``You can just call them you know?''

``I know. I'm just bad at keeping contacted, that said I think they might be coming around next week for Christmas.'' Felix poured a coffee for Eliza and then himself.

``I look forward to it.'' Eliza said as he grabbed his cup. Elijah and Tobias walked into the kitchen dressed up in grocery bagger uniforms, grabbing a snack bar each before sitting down at the table.

``Hey Elijah, Tobias.'' Felix said as he blew on the surface of his coffee cup.

``Hey.'' They both said in unison, Elijah smiled brightly back with Tobias looking rested and calm. They ate together in unison, even taking turns at feeding the other with each of the bars; they still do the same things they did when they were little. Felix and Eliza sat down on the lounge of their living room to watch TV while they still had time, Eliza resting his head against Felix sighing as he continued to wake up.

``Are you doing alright, Eliza?'' Felix asked as he wrapped an arm around him.

``Yeah I am. I too had a dream with the imaginary book Nathan read us. Just thinking about that makes me feel happy. I know it's only been a couple of weeks since moving out but I really miss them.''

``I know the feeling.'' Felix looked over his shoulder and saw the twins taking turns of licking the fur on the side of their faces, a form of weird grooming the two does; he was thankful they aren't one of the skin or scaled creatures because it would only make it creepy and disgusting. ``Why do you two do that?'' Felix called out to them.

``Because we like to, clearly.'' Tobias replied with a hint of sass.

``I'm just glad no one else sees you two do that in public.'' Felix paused as he drew a blank in his mind. ``Wait, I only just thought to ask. Does anyone know that you two are... together?''

``Yeah.'' Tobias replied. The lack of follow up made both Eliza and Felix awkward,

``...Really?'' Felix replied, ``Can you elaborate on that?'' Tobias stopped grooming Elijah and turned to Eliza and Felix.

``Mum got us the job; Mrs Russel knows about us. She doesn't care though so long as we do our job. And we do; she likes us for that.''

``Mr Wyld at the cafe we go to also knows.'' Elijah added, ``I think a lot of people know. They don't care.''

``...Alright.'' Felix struggled to believe what he was hearing, do the townsfolk actually not care or weirded out? They are literally brothers and not everyone is open minded. ``Do you two like, kiss each other in public? I don't know what you two do in public.''

``Why does that matter?'' Elijah replied with a hint of distress.

``Because we're brothers.'' Tobias said to Elijah, he looked at Felix once again. ``We hug, sometimes kiss. We mostly hug and rest on each other. That's all.''

``I don't get it, every time the topic comes up, I don't get why it's such a big deal or why it's weird.'' Elijah said with some grief. ``Like Mr Austin. He gives us hell each time he comes by, spouting lines from a book I don't even know what it's about; whatever it is it isn't a nice book.''

``Well Dave is a pastor; their religion is all rigid and crap. Of course, he doesn't like you two. Just ignore the prick.'' Felix replied, ``I'm just glad the country has gotten same-sex marriage a thing, people might just assume you two are a normal couple. If it was like a couple of decades ago you guys wouldn't have much luck.'' He took a sip from his coffee and felt awful for bringing up the topic. ``I'm sorry I brought this up, you two. I just am surprised you two can get away with it.''

``It's fine, I understand why you would be worried. We just want to do what makes us happy, I remember Dad giving us a long talk one day that went on for like, an hour.'' Tobias said grabbing one of Elijah's hand and squeezing it.

``I remember that. He was like `beware of showing affecting in public,' and I was like `but why?'. He gave the same sort of answer other people do and, I just hear it and just, I just don't get it.'' Elijah sighed.

``Well at least we can every now and then.'' Tobias said as he and Elijah embraced each other. They rubbed all over each other's back; Tobias sniffing Elijah deeply and exhaling with pleasure. ``You smell nice.'' Tobias said offhandedly, Elijah giggled back. ``By the way, Felix. Danny will be coming over and staying a couple of nights with us.''

``Duly noted, Tobias.'' Felix replied. Both Elijah and Tobias squeezed each other tightly once more before turning to the clock.

``We need to go now.''

``Hopefully the bus isn't too early.'' Felix said as he waved at them goodbye.

``Thank you, good bye.'' Elijah said as he came over to Felix and Eliza. He hugged them both, who were still sitting on the lounge. He returned to Tobias, held his hand and breathing together they walked out the door.

``Bye you two.'' Eliza said as they left, he turned to Felix and smiled. Felix looked back at Eliza and they shared a kiss. ``Love you.'' Eliza said with a smile, ``and I hope you have a good day today.''

``Love you too, Eliza. And same to you.'' Felix smiled back at Eliza, he hugged him tight before getting up to get dressed for work.

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