Sa'ren Part I

"We boyfriends now, Kev?" Joel asked as Sean started snoring lightly behind his head.

Kevin pondered that. "I... I dunno, Jo'. You want to be? I'd like it, but..."

Joel also started to ponder it. "I can't say. I feel this Fire for a lot of people, and I don't know yet which Fire is a boyfriend one. Your Fire... what I feel for you, I mean... it's strongest." He paused again before saying slowly, "But what if I'm wrong and I 'love' someone else more and find out after becoming your boyfriend? I don't wanna hurt you, Kev. You're my bestest friend!"

Kevin nodded slightly in understanding. "Yeah, I understand. I'm dealing with some stuff too. Best Friends, Jo'. Best friends until we're both sure?"

Joel smiled and nodded, then gave Kevin a big, loving kiss on the lips.

Kevin giggled quietly. "With benefits!"

"Benefits?" Joel asked, puzzled.

Kevin kissed Joel back, just as lovingly, and his hand moved from around Joel's back to the Vulcan's front. Joel's eyes widened as Kevin found his privates and rubbed softly. "Benefits," Kevin giggled again before putting his arm back around his friend.

Joel nodded a bit foolishly, a quirky grin back on his face, "Yeah. Best Friends with Benefits! I'd like that..."

Kevin grinned back for a moment, then his face became pensive. Joel felt a flash of worry from his friend.

"What's wrong? You feel afraid of something. You were in there too when..." Joel trailed off, still unable to give names to sex acts yet.

"When we made love?" Kevin whispered.

"Did we? I..." Joel's voice dropped to a dead whisper as if what he was saying was illegal, "I thought that was anal and stuff!"

Kevin smiled sadly, "People make love when doing anything special, even if it's only kisses, Jo'. If there's a 'Fire' in them like you say, and they care about sharing that with another, then they make love."

"O...okay," Joel nodded, understanding. "Why were you scared back then, then? And why are you nervous now?"

The brown haired boy sighed. "I'm afraid and nervous 'cos I don't wanna be like Jake was once; addicted to sex, then hooked onto drugs, and..." He paused and Joel tightened his hug in support. Continuing slowly, Kevin said, "I have known I was gay for a while, Jo'. I have also known about sex and jerkin' off and all that for a long time. I've never... never done anything before." He trailed off in a whisper.

"I'm here. It's okay, Kev," Joel nuzzled his nose into Kevin's cheek. "I'm here."

Tucking his head under Joel's chin, Kevin breathed in deeply. "I never wanted to do nuthin' 'cos I saw what it made Jake. I didn't want that. I don't want that, but now... I want to feel what we just did again, Joel! And it scares me! I don't wanna be a slut. I don't wanna just do it to feel good and get... get addicted, then do drugs and crime and stuff. I... I... don't know what to do..." He broke off and started crying softly.

Joel held him quietly for a few minutes as he thought furiously. With deliberate slowness and thought he answered Kevin's troubles, "Think about JJ."

"Umm," Kevin sniffed, "uh, okay."

"Think about doing what we did just now with him."

Kevin shuddered, but did as he was told.

"What do you think it would be like?" Joel asked softly.

Kevin turned his head to look into Joel's eyes. "Well, I'd think it would feel good, but... no, I don't want to do that with JJ. It's plain wrong! He's with Adam!"

"Okay. Now, do the same with Nathan."

Kevin, puzzlement on his face, did as he was told. After a few seconds, he again shook his head, "No. I don't wanna... it would feel good, but... No, Joel. Not with him either."

Joel smiled and kissed Kevin yet again. "Who would you want to do stuff with?"

"Y...you," Kevin stuttered shyly, "just you."

Joel giggled, "Not much of a slut, then, are you?"

Kevin began to relax more and more before breaking out in quiet giggles. "No, not really. Well, I'd be yours!"

Joel's eyes widened before he started laughing silently. Kevin soon joined him, and they giggled until their ribs hurt.

"You not sleepy, Uncles?" they heard from the lump that had appeared by their feet. There was slight movement, and a very tiny body wormed it's way up until a three year old Levi sprawled himself between them. "You should sleep. You're gonna need it," he piped seriously.

Kevin grinned at Joel before they both covered the tiny child's face with kisses. Once he had been properly subdued, they cuddled in around him, and closed their eyes.

Levi decided to remain where he was. Cuddles were good, especially Joel-Cuddles.

He closed his own eyes and let himself sleep as well, yet still 'watching' all four of his uncles.

A Mikyvis' job was never done...

---

Kevin awoke to find that Levi had shifted behind Sean, and that he and Joel had traded places while asleep. He was now being spooned by Sean rather than Cory. What made him giggle, and therefore wake Sean, was the sight of Joel doing his regular thing as he slept, sucking a thumb. Only this time, Cory's hand that had been around his 'Lil'elf' must have drifted too close to Joel's mouth. Kevin laughed quietly, and Sean soon joined in: obviously, due to having his arms around Kevin, Joel had been unable to suck his own thumb, and so as soon as Cory's had presented itself to him, he had gone to town on it. Both he and Cory were still dead to the world, and all that could be heard were light snores and a 'suck, suck, suck' sound every so often.

"You got a camera, Sean?" Kevin managed to ask before breaking out in quiet giggles again.

Sean nodded, "Yeah, but it's... it's in my hand. Levi?"

Levi snuggled further behind Sean, and leaned his chin on Sean's arm. "Take the picture, Uncle Sean. That's cute!"

Sean giggled and did so. Cory woke up due to the flash of the light, but Joel simply muttered something around the thumb in his mouth, and was soon back to contentedly sucking it, still asleep.

Cory smiled as soon as he realized what was happening. "I'm glad he don't grind his teeth in his sleep!" Cory giggled softly.

"Wat arth yoo tawkin' abowth?" Joel murmured around Cory's thumb, his eyes opening blearily. He blinked a few times as he focused on the grinning Kevin, Sean and Levi. He went to take his thumb out of his mouth, but all he ended up with was getting a hand full of his best friend's cute butt, causing Kevin to giggle more. "Wat ith thith?" his brow furrowed in confusion as he looked at the large hand that was in front of his face.

"I think you took possession of my thumb in your sleep, Lil'elf," Cory replied softly as he removed his thumb and kissed Joel's ear.

"Oh. Sorry," Joel mumbled as his face coloured up in a blush.

Kevin sniggered, "I thought it was cute, Jo'."

"You didn't do anything other than make it soggy; it's okay, lil' bro," Cory added.

Levi smiled down at the blushing yet grinning Vulcan. "You hungry? Daddy just said that Tommy said he'd make pancakes but not 'til his chief taster gets there and helps him and that's you, Uncle Joel!"

Joel's stomach answered for him.

"Cool! I'll tell him you'll be there as soon as you've had your cream put on and dressed!" he bubbled, then vanished.

"I don't feel itchy, though," he said out loud. "I feel okay."

Sean nodded, "That's good, but the Doc said you should have a last dose this morning. Hopefully you'll stay okay then."

Joel smiled softly. "Okay. But it's Kev's turn!"

Kevin grinned, but then looked a little puzzled. "You still can't touch yourself there?"

Joel mutely shook his head, "No. I... not yet." Then his face grew a little wicked, and he glanced down at Kevin's middle, "But..."

Sean laughed, as did Cory, and they both rolled and got out of bed. "Okay, you guys get ready," Cory started, "Then we'll go get..."

A vile smell struck his nostrils making him gag, and Sean did also. "Cory! Did you steal the bread last night??" he asked in accusation.

Kevin started to blush while Joel nearly fainted.

"It... that was me, Sean," Kevin mumbled shyly. "I've never had..."

He didn't finish either, for Joel gasped, and went pale.

The smell grew worse, and Cory and Sean ran for their en-suite bathroom so fast they got jammed in the doorway.

"Jesus!" Sean cried and fell over, for Cory had chosen that moment to join in. "You did! I... I'm..." he gagged and jumped to his feet. A second later, the bedroom door was opened and Sean was in the hallway looking at them all in horror. "Three of them?! That's unreal!"

For Love of God, Close Door, Sean-Boy! they all heard from I-Cheya down the hallway.

"Umm... am I ill? Are we all ill?" Joel asked, fear once again back in his voice.

Cory, now that his nose was self-acclimatised, moved back over and cuddled up to the two boys on his bed, "No; it's just the garlic bread saying hello. Remember I told you I get stinky? Looks like you two get the same."

Kyle appeared then: in a full Starfleet issue Vacuum Suit!

Sean started laughing while fanning the air from his nose, "What have you got to be afraid of, Kyle-bear??"

"Heightened senses, horsey-boy!" retorted the King of the Mikyvis playfully, before grinning at them all. "Just messin' with ya. Okay, I'm going to 'pipe' this stuff 'away' some place. There's a world not far from here where what y'all are doing is a breath of fresh air to them!"

"Good idea," Sean nodded seriously, "or they will cause a disaster at the Funeral."

"Only if someone lights a match!" Cory giggled.

Kyle grinned again. "There, done. Fart as much as you like, we're all safe now!"

Kevin poked his tongue out at the younger boy before laughing wickedly, "I've got to do this one day with Kenny, especially if he's been teasing me!"

"Didn't think you two ever fought," Cory commented.

"We don't, but we do tease a lot. He sometimes gets me worked up, so now I know how to get even!"

Joel giggled and pulled Kevin in closer for a cuddle, "You're as silly as Sean is!"

Sean glanced down the hallway towards the Sehlat cub. "I-Cheya, I thought you and the guys were taking it in turns to sleep?"

They need sleep. I watch, they sleep

"Aren't you tired?" Sean asked curiously.

Joel giggled from the bed, "He's a Vulcan animal, Big Ted. We can go days without sleep."

"You slept a lot yesterday, T'hy'la," Kevin murmured from his arms.

"Yeah, but I'm not as fit as a normal Vulcan," Joel giggled.

Cory laughed and winked at his brother, "Now that's a good excuse. I'm getting dressed. You going to, Sean, or are you setting a new fashion for streaking at funerals?"

"Is it safe in there yet?"

Kyle gave the thumbs up.

"Why should I believe you, Kyle-bear?? You're still in that suit!!"

"Oh, bite me!" Kyle said as he removed the suit with a thought. "Get dressed. I'm hungry for pancakes, and Tommy won't make any without Joel. Get dressed!" he finished with a tongue poke at his brothers before vanishing.

Joel was about to get up when Kevin pulled him back. "Nuh huh, Jo'. Lie on your belly. You've got to have your cream put on first!"

Cory laughed as he went to fetch the tube of skin-cream. "I just think you want to give your boyfriend an all over massage, Kev!"

Kevin blew him a raspberry, but the foolish grin never left his face as he took the cream and watched Joel roll onto his front.

Cory and Sean had completely dressed before Kevin had finished with Joel's back. He sat astride his friend and was slowly massaging the cream into every area of exposed flesh he could.

Joel was purring, or would have if he could.

"You've got dimples on your butt!" Kevin giggled as he reached there.

Joel looked back over his shoulder, "Really?"

"Yeah!" Kevin giggled, poking a finger into each cheek to show Sean and Cory. "Where's that camera, Sean?"

Joel buried his face in the quilt and his body took on a darker shade as he blushed all over.

"No, Kev," Sean laughed as he ruffled the boy's hair. "I don't think Joel would want that."

"Thanks," came the embarrassed mumble from the quilt.

"I'm getting some coffee going. This might take a while," Cory laughed as he pulled his husband from the room. "Hey, Bear? You want anything?"

Meat from pig?

"Bacon do?"

Raw?

"Of course," Sean giggled.

Please

"Turn over, Jo'," Kevin whispered as the older teens left.

Joel did so, and his face was still burning with his blush. Kevin sat on Joel's thighs and simply looked down at him in wonder. 'He's an angel,' Kevin thought to himself, 'and he's mine!'

Joel quirked his lips in a shy smile, "You look... ummm..." He blushed harder.

Kevin whispered with a shy smile of his own, "You can say it, Jo'. It's okay to say stuff like I think you wanna say."

Joel took a deep breath and whispered, "Beautiful... and sexy..."

Kevin also blushed. "What I was thinking about you too," he murmured as he started rubbing the cream into Joel's belly; paying close attention to the outie bellybutton, of course.

Joel watched Kevin's face soften more and more as the cream was being worked into his chest, neck, face and stomach. Kevin started to smile broadly, though, when he got to a certain point, and Joel soon joined him.

"Love you," Kevin whispered as he leaned down to kiss Joel seriously while his hand suddenly became busier.

Joel just pushed his own Fire into Kevin as response as they kissed, and his own hands started to seek out a certain part of Kevin's body.

---

"They are noisy!" Hermes giggled as he and his brother ran ahead of their sisters into the kitchen.

"They woke you up?" Sean asked with a chuckle.

Aphrodite nodded as she and her sister entered a few seconds after the twin cheetahs, "You could say that."

Blackie bounced in. Boy and Kevin-Boy, sitting in tree; w... a... n...

Behave! I-Cheya huffed as he nosed the wolf pup in the rump. No tease

Cory shook his head as he laughed. He managed to ask, "Cream for you guys?"

The cheetah's nodded quickly, while the she-cats went to the meat being pulled out for them, "No, we'll snack on this with Bear."

Blackie looked at the raw meat and wrinkled his nose with a whine.

"Don't worry, boy," Sean leaned down and scratched the pup's ears. "We're cooking some for you."

Blackie licked Sean's hand by way of thanks and sat at his feet, waiting patiently for the bacon to crisp.

---

Joel found that he liked kissing a lot.

So did Kevin.

The human boy was stretched out on top of his Vulcan friend and they were attempting to find the other's tonsils.

Coming up for air, Kevin smiled down lazily at Joel. "I love you," he whispered.

Joel's own smile grew larger. He pushed what he was feeling back out and into Kevin briefly yet again.

"Come on, we should get ready. Tommy's probably wondering where you are," Kevin giggled after another long kiss.

"Mmm, okay," Joel breathed out as Kevin lifted himself off, and rolled from the bed.

Five minutes later, they appeared in the kitchen to see everyone grinning at them; even the Sehlat. Now that was an achievement!

"What?" Joel asked innocently, his eyes wide as he blinked at them all.

Mercury snorted back a giggled. "Nuffin'! Did we say anything? Nope, must be nothing, then!"

Kevin blushed, "You heard?"

"You could say that," Aphrodite stated, repeating herself from earlier.

Artemus sniggered, "Saw too. The door was open! Like I said - you're cute!"

Joel cringed back behind Kevin nervously, yet he did have a small blush mounting his cheeks.

Cory came over to him and whispered in his ear as he hugged the small Vulcan, "You did nothing wrong, Lil'elf. Just like the shower; it was all okay."

Joel nodded uncertainly, but did start to smile as the G-Cats all nodded in approval.

"Time for a real breakfast!" Sean giggled as he pushed his now empty plate away from himself. "Shall I call for a Levi-Taxi?"

"I charge by the microsecond. 5 hugs per," Levi sniggered as he appeared on Sean's shoulders.

Sean laughed and pulled the little guy down and started snuggling him. Cory came over, kissed Levi's cheek, and giggled, "When you're ready, Leev. We're all wasting away."

"Yeah, I can tell," Levi mumbled from the wonderful cuddle Sean had going as everyone in the room vanished and appeared in Teri's living room.

Jason's grandmother, Meredith, nearly choked on her morning coffee. "My goodness! These old nerves won't stand for too much popping about, cariad," she spluttered to Levi. "At least with transporters one gets some warning!"

"Sorry, Granma Mere!" Levi giggled with a sunny smile. "Will snuggles help?"

"Always. Get your skinny butt over here," she laughed, opening her arms.

"Okay, so it's proven that Mikyvis are powered by cuddles!" Cory giggled.

Joel, his self-worth and strength bolstered by all that had happen in the last twelve hours, smiled at Kevin and winked. He then moved over and started giving puppy-dog eyes to Cory while plaintively tugging on his hand. "Isn't everyone, Blondie?" he whispered, adding a play-pout for good measure.

"Yep, and I'm feeling an Elf-Cuddle deficiency!" Cory giggled as he scooped up Joel into his arms.

Kevin sniggered, "I'm topped up on something better than those right now." He then blushed at what he had implied, albeit loosely. So did Joel, who tucked his face into Cory neck as his own cheeks started burning.

Meredith, now hugging Levi soundly, looked over and started chuckling at the two furiously blushing boys. "Oh ho; so we have another randy couple in the house! Hope you had fun, sweeties," she smiled.

Joel's reaction was immediate. He tensed in Cory's arms and started shaking. In a whisper he asked his brother, "You s...sure I won't be in t...trouble?"

"Positive, Lil'elf... if it was a crime, everyone here would be in prison right now, including a lot of the adults!" Cory replied back.

Joel sniffed, and relaxed somewhat. Levi looked over at Sean and something passed in that look.

Sean started to quietly chuckle as he murmured, "Mom will not expect that one."

Joel glanced over at him and saw him smiling at him. He grinned back a bit uncertainly before giving Cory one last hug. "Where's our brothers?" he asked as Cory placed him back down.

Levi giggled, "It's only seven, Uncle Joel; they're still in the nest. Dad and Pop and my bros are awake and snuggling, and Tommy is in the kitchen with Aunt Helen and Grandma, but the others are still asleep."

Kevin started giggling. "Hey, Joel? You wanna have some fun?"

"Like what?" Joel asked with interest.

Cory saw the look in Kevin's eyes and rolled his own. "What have you got planned, Kev?"

"Nothin'," he grinned evilly as he took Joel's hand and pulled him from the room.

Sean glanced at Cory, then at Meredith. "Oh shit," he mumbled under his breath.

In the kitchen, Tommy was suddenly accosted by two giggling boys, and Teri and Helen started laughing as he was piled under by Joel and his 'Morning-Snuggle-Attack'.

"Morn'in, Tommy! We's got a ideer an' neeta' know if y'all's got apaira x'tra pots an' sum stirsticks. Kin we be borrow'n dem pleese?" Joel asked his brother in an exact copy of Tommy's accent.

"Tommy, you're contagious!" Teri laughed as she pulled her Vulcan son into a loving hug as Tommy got up from the floor, howling in laughter.

"Com'n up," Tommy managed as he handed Kevin the required items. "Thanks, Joel. I liked dat."

Joel moved over and hugged him with an extra special hug, "Any time, Tommy," he whispered, "as long as you want me to, I'll speak like you - 'kay?"

"'Kay," Tommy grinned, then watched as the two boys raced back out, carrying a pot and a spoon each.

Helen looked curiously at Teri, "What do you think they need them for?"

"I think we're about to fin..." she started to reply but was interrupted. The sudden loud banging of said wooden spoons against the pots coming from the direction of the room where the kids were nesting answered Helen's question for her far easier.

Half a second after the banging started, Tyler popped into the room, still lying on the floor.

"Don't tell me that surprised you, Ty!" Teri laughed at the shocked look on her youngest son's face.

Tyler got up from the floor and glanced through the door of the kitchen towards where a lot of laughing and giggling was coming from. "Yeah, it did. We can't tell the future around Joel, Mom. He's a whirlwind of possibilities and everyone near him is affected in some way. That scared the shit out of me! I was kissing Kyle at the time!"

In the nest room, Joel and Kevin were being soundly tickled/hugged by the others. In Kevin's case it was mostly tickles, but Kyle had quickly sent to everyone that Joel couldn't take tickle torture yet, so 'Go easy, and hug and kiss him as well'

Xandor was still trying to preen down his ruffled feathers at the rude awakening when the little Vulcan was passed to him for 'punishment'. "Well, I was feeling peckish," he giggled as he grabbed Joel and lifted the boy's tee-shirt. "A Vulcan belly sounds quite tasty!" He then proceeded to give Joel's stomach a massive does of belly-raspberries. Joel was in a giggling, hysterical, happy mess by the time the bird-boy let him up from the floor.

Kevin was in an even worse state than Joel. In the end, only his rather panicked, "I'm gonna pee!" stopped the torture Adam and Brant had going between them.

Joel grinned as he watched his best friend run from the room holding himself tightly. "You gonna get up now?" he asked them all happily.

Adam went over, picked up Joel and plonked him on his shoulders, "Yup, and your punishment is to go help Tommy make breakfast, little imp!" He started to walk out, carrying the laughing boy easily, "Come on, I'm hungry!"

Tyler was still by the kitchen door and was grinning as he saw his brothers coming towards him. "Wait 'til later, Elf! I'm going to think up something real good to get you back with!" he giggled.

Joel was set to his feet next to Tyler and immediately grabbed his little brother for a hug. "Just as long as you... you..." he stopped, sighed, then pushed his feelings out towards Tyler.

"I do. Always," Tyler answered him, hugging him back tightly. "You're my big Vulcan brother; I'll always love you, Joel." He pulled back and looked up into Joel's eyes. "In the short time we've been brothers, I cannot imagine not having you around, Elf. I'd die if you did," he whispered.

Joel shivered, "Don't say that! Don't. I'm not worth that, Tyler!"

"Yes you are," Tyler said with certainty, shivering slightly himself. "All my brothers are."

Joel sighed, then kissed Tyler. "You gonna help make pancakes?" he asked quietly as Adam walked back to the nest room to get dressed.

Tyler nodded happily, "Yeah. One sec, just gonna grab some clothes." He popped away, and reappeared ten seconds later in tee-shirt and shorts, "Ready!"

---

Half an hour later, and Kevin was patting his slightly protruding belly as he watched Joel finish the last of the pancakes on his plate. Again he had been fed each mouthful by Joel, and this time had stopped asking for more before becoming bloated. It was still more than he would have normally eaten in a day, but for some reason, Joel feeding him made food desirable rather than repugnant.

Joel pushed his plate back slightly and sat back, pulling Kevin closer to snuggle. Good food needed a good friend to snuggle with after, he decided with a cute smile as he watched his brothers finish their own breakfast. He watched as his mother came in with two energy shakes and placed them before the two small boys.

"Did you sleep well, Joel?" she asked as she kissed his forehead.

He nodded happily, "Yeah. Cor and Sean showed us their room and then we snuggled to go to sleep. Then..." he paused, glancing at Cory. Cory nodded at him, and so, slowly, he told Teri about what had happened with Cory the night before.

Everyone in the room was silent as they were let in on how close they had come to losing Cory forever. The Mikyvis were the only ones not surprised. They simply added their own explanation for it, going by what they had seen in the night. Kyle, however, remained strangely quiet and just pushed his untouched food around his plate.

Joel had barely finished speaking when Teri pulled him into her arms.

"Thank you for being Cory's Guardian Angel, little one," Teri whispered softly.

Joel smiled slowly as she kissed his cheek. "He'd have done the same for me," he whispered. He then paused again - then started shaking. "He did as well..." he trailed off fearfully. This was the test.

Cory noticed and came over quickly to rub his back.

Joel was looking into his mothers eyes, but couldn't bring himself to say it - to ask it - to seek confirmation from his mother.

Teri raised an eyebrow at Cory, then noticed Kevin begin to blush. Deeply.

"Ah," she guessed. She looked into Joel's worried eyes. "You and Kevin had 'fun'?"

Slowly, uncertainly, he nodded his head. Then he started blushing heavily as, due to his perfect memory, something started happening.

Teri smiled as she noticed his 'reaction' and placed the now bright green boy back next to the equally blushing Kevin. "It's okay, Joel. As long as you're both happy, and as long as no-one gets hurt, then I'm happy too."

He just smiled shyly up at her, his fears receding. "So... it's okay that Kev and I masturbated in the shower, and that Cory and Sean were with us and...?"

Kevin choked and hid his face in his friend's shoulder. "Joel!" he mumbled in embarrassment.

"What?" he asked curiously. "Mama said it was okay, Kev; I'm just making sure it was, is all."

To their credit, no-one laughed. Kevin took a peek when no laughter came in response to Joel's revelation. All he saw were happy smiles. He began to grin back, even through his embarrassment. He sighed happily, and snuggled more with Joel. "Just don't go telling them everything we ever do, Jo'. It's embarrassing!"

"Can't I say we kissed either?" he asked in concern.

Kevin giggled, "Well, that's okay, and even if it wasn't, you just did!"

Giggles did meet that statement. "Good for you, guys!" Adam giggled. "At least your first time was in a bedroom!"

"Oh?" Teri asked, a mischievous grin on her face, "and what is that supposed to mean, Adam?"

"I... ah... damn," he mumbled.

JJ buried his face in his hands, "Blonds... God save us... please?"

Tyler was on the floor laughing at this, of course.

Joel did not know what this was all in reference to, and so he just smiled curiously around at them all.

"Tell you after, Lil'elf," Sean sniggered, glancing at JJ and Adam.

"Oh, okay. Um, Mam?" he turned his beautiful blue eyes on Teri. A hint of nervousness was still there. He obviously needed her confirmation on something else.

She opened her arms and up he hopped again. "You can ask me anything," she murmured to him.

And so he did - this time, it was Cory and Sean's turn to blush scarlet.

"You said it was okay for me and Kev... I mean, it's okay, right?" he asked, just to be sure.

Teri nodded.

Joel sucked in a breath, "Then is it also okay that me and Kev were watching Cor and Sean do the same?"

Teri chuckled, as did everyone else this time. "As long as they were okay with it, then yes."

Joel leaned in and whispered something else, after checking around and seeing Timmy giggling at the faces his parents were pulling at where the conversation was headed.

Teri really started laughing after Joel's whispered explanation and questions. "Yes, Joel. That is okay to. That's natural, especially around curious boys who like other boys. It's okay."

Joel slipped back down and snuggled in next to Kevin again while Teri pulled her two sons over and said quietly, "After what I've been told, I now know you're both growing up fine and healthy. Don't be upset at what he said, okay?"

Cory's eyes widened as he blushed, and he murmured out, "Ah, don't worry, Mom. We wouldn't."

"Even though I feel like tickling him to death right about now!" Sean added, darting a look at the innocently smiling Joel who was looking up at him.

Cory pulled back from his mother and pulled Joel over to hug him, "You just like making me blush, don't you?"

"Uh huh," Joel nodded with a smile, "You're cute when you blush!" He then thought of something. "Ah, Kev? You asked me to remind you to thank Levi for the present he gave you."

Kevin started blushing again.

"Considering who Levi's parents are, I think it's better that I don't ask!" Teri said with a chuckle.

"It was a good present, Mammy; honest!" Joel said sincerely.

"Just don't ask me to show you at the breakfast table," Kevin murmured as he looked anywhere but at the faces looking at him curiously.

Levi sniggered. "He wanted something back that had been taken when he was a baby, Grandma. I just gave him what he asked for, is all," the little Mikyvis giggled.

Joel nodded happily. "Yeah, and we're almost twins now!" he bubbled.

"I could give him pointy ears too, if you'd like?" Levi joked.

Teri raised her eyebrows, "If it's what I think it is, then I'm sure I'll see it sooner or later."

Cory started laughing. "Kevin, you nesting with us tonight?"

The blushing boy nodded, "Dunno what Kenny'll say."

Cory glanced at his mother. "Then yes, you will!" he laughed.

Teri rolled her eyes and left the gang to it.

"Will Kenny be angry?" Joel asked with concern.

Levi shook his head, "No. If Uncle Kevin is happy, then Uncle Kenny is too. They love each other, but Uncle Kenny's always wanted Uncle Kev to be happy. Getting his wish is a good thing."

Kevin grinned. "Yeah," he whispered, throwing a telling look at Joel, "you can say that again."

"Looks like it ain't just the Disney Mickey Mouses that grant wishes then," JJ giggled to Adam.

Kyle slapped his fork down on the table in sudden annoyance as he said to no-one in particular, "I'm getting real sick of this name calling."

JJ blinked. "It was only a joke, Kyle," he said softly in an apologetic tone.

Before he could continue, Kyle exploded at him in anger, "You go call a black kid 'nigger' and tell him it was only a joke! You go and insult someone's name when they were named after two of the best people he knows!" Kyle's face was streaming tears, now; tears of anger but more of helplessness and grief. Helplessness as he was unable to help Cory the night before, and grief over the upcoming funeral. He raged on in the now silent and shocked room, "Mikey and Levis! THAT'S who we're named for and every time you guys go and poke fun at our name, you insult them. You insult us! Would you like being called names by some alien race 'cos you're human? The little kids who mess up our name is no problem 'cos it IS a hard name to say, but... but... oh forget it!"

He vanished.

Joel poked his head from around Cory's back where he'd been hiding and glanced at the now empty seat.

JJ's mouth was just hanging open. His eyes widened when Tyler shot him a dirty look. "Well done," was all he said before he too vanished.

Joel glanced up at Cory's shocked face, then over at the wide eyed Kevin.

"L...Levi, can you take me to your dad please?" JJ whispered eventually.

Levi shook his head after a brief second. "No. He feels bad for shouting at you. He..." Levi answered before trailing off. Then, "He feels ashamed," he whispered.

"Take me," Joel said, fear evident in his voice.

Levi cocked his head to one side, "Daddy don't wanna see anyone, Uncle Joel."

Joel fixed Levi with an odd look for him, one never before seen on his face. A Big Brother look. "He and Ty are my for-real little brothers. Yet they don't know me like they know JJ. They... they are not as... they don't... they can't hurt me any more than I've already been. I don't know them like JJ does neither, so I have less expectations." He got up and walked around to JJ. He placed his hand under JJ's shirt to touch his chest and said to the boy, "Think of Kyle."

JJ did, and Joel's eyes darted around for a second. "Okay," he murmured. "Bryce?"

Bryce looked at his uncle, his face unreadable.

"When Levi tells you, bring JJ, Cory and Sean. Levi? Can you take me to Kyle please?" the small Vulcan asked the first born of the Mikyvis.

"He doesn't want to speak to anyone, not even Poppa," Levi shook his head, trying to dissuade the boy. He didn't want Joel to be hurt by a cold shoulder from his father.

"Take me," Joel whispered again, "It'll be okay."

Levi shuddered nervously, "Okay, if you're sure, Uncle Joel."

Joel appeared with Levi on the roof of CIC, and he could see Kyle and Tyler sitting on the edge. Joel saw straight away that something was different from normal, for the bird that was 'flying' past him was frozen in place.

Tyler turned and came over to Joel quickly. "Best you go back to Cory, bro," Tyler started, but Joel's quick hug and kiss silenced him.

"He's my second little brother, lil' bro, and he thinks he's hurt JJ, so I'm here instead," Joel murmured before moving over and sitting next to Kyle.

"Go 'way," Kyle said softly, morosely.

Joel pulled his little brother over and into his side in response.

"I said go away, Joel," Kyle said again more firmly.

Joel picked up his brother and sat him on his lap. He then started pushing out with his feelings, pushing out the Fire and Heat he felt for Kyle. He found that he could not do what he had done with Cory and the others and put his feelings into Kyle, but... he just kept pushing; offering.

Kyle sat stiffly on his Vulcan brother's lap and ignored the love and caring that Joel was surrounding his essence in. Well, he ignored it for a while. After what seemed like an hour later, an hour of total silence yet with this constant blanket of love surrounding him, he finally accepted what Joel was offering. He sniffed and started to cry softly into Joel's shoulder.

That bird, Joel noticed on one level of his layered mind, had still not moved an inch.

"Want to tell me what's the matter, Little Bear?" Joel whispered into his little brother's hair, bestowing the name he had chosen that would forever be his special one for Kyle.

Kyle shook his head slightly and just kept on crying.

Joel waited for a few minutes until the brown haired eight year old's sobs had lessened, then, "Come on, Little Bear. I don't mind what you say. You know the worst that I've been through, so I won't mind what it is. You won't hurt me."

Kyle sniffed and spoke nearly under his breath, "I shouted at my big brother. I got mad at him, Joel! I've never screamed at him before; not ever. I... I'm scared he might not love me any more, now."

Joel tightened his grip and rubbed Kyle's back. "I asked JJ to let me feel something before I came here. Wanna feel it?"

"What is it?" Kyle asked sickly.

"What he feels for you. Not what he did feel, but what he feels now. Here, you see for yourself," Joel whispered and started pushing out with the feelings he had picked up from JJ.

Kyle felt the emotions coming from Joel change, and again accepted them.

He started crying again.

Joel looked over his shoulder at Levi and Tyler and mouthed, "Tell Bryce."

Seconds later, Sean, Cory and JJ appeared.

Kyle looked up, looked at his three closest brothers, looked back and into Joel's eyes, then kissed Joel quickly. "Thank you. You're really a big brother, aren't you?" he whispered with a ghost of a smile.

Joel shrugged, "I hope so. Go. Go see your JJ, Little Bear."

Kyle didn't waste time running over. He just popped from Joel's lap and into JJ's arms, where he started to cry again.

Joel moved over to the group and tugged at Cory's hand. "Blondie, Kev wants to go to his home to show me some things. He told me when I was feeding him pancakes. He said we'd meet you at the funeral with Xain and Jake. Is that okay?"

Cory hugged his little elf tightly, "Sure thing, Joel. If you need me or Sean, though, call. Okay?"

Joel nodded, then looked at Levi. Levi grinned, and they both vanished, Bryce following them.

The five boys on the roof settled down with Kyle in the centre, and started to talk.

---

Rec Room:

Telez shook Jason awake. "Bro? I need you to finalize something for me. Bro?"

Jason yawned and stretched out. He looked around at the empty Rec Room. "Gawd, did I sleep through breakfast?"

"Nearly," Gabe giggled from the sofa. "I got a nice show, though. You and Nath' waving your swords at us all."

Nathan groaned and turned over onto his belly, "Damn it. I hate sleeping late."

"Nice flagpole though..." Travis giggled. "How do you keep a flag on it though with the way it keeps jerking around?"

Even Nathan's butt turned red at that. "My preferred 'flag' is rubbing the sand out of his eyes," he mumbled with a quirky grin as he glanced at Jason. "And my 'flag' don't mind the twitching... do you, Jace?"

"No comment," Jason giggled.

"Jace, you missed some drool on your chin..." Travis giggled, enjoying the show of his newest brothers waking up.

Jason poked his tongue out at Travis, "Well, can't be helped. He's hot. AND it's my turn next time!"

Nathan blushed more, "Jace! Stop it, you know..."

"Yeah, yeah; I know. You still love me though, don't you?" the Evans Patriarch asked, using his puppy dog eyes at Nathan.

Nathan smiled softly, "Forever."

Telez rolled his eyes, then decided to sit down and wait out his mushy brothers.

"Hey, don't roll your eyes at us! Just 'cos you got a major case of blue balls don't mean we can't have fun!" Nathan sniggered at the Andorian.

Telez raised an eyebrow. "I'll have you know Antony and I enjoyed intimacy last night, and..."

"Tel," Jason sighed, a loving smile on his face, "you've ALWAYS got blue balls... you've been around us too long, haven't you?"

Telez stopped talking. Then, "Damn. You're right. I have. Now I'll have to kick your butts."

"Let me get some popcorn; this should be fun!" Gabe giggled as he motioned for Davey and Jimmy to join them.

Jason checked quickly, and found that Telez was serious. "You really want to spar with me on an empty tummy? You're insane, bro; you know how cranky I get if I don't eat!"

Telez smiled, "Then it'll be a good work out." He glanced at Jimmy and Davey, "Children. Jason, Nathan and I will now play fight. Do not be concerned for we will not hurt each other. Will you both be okay watching?"

They both nodded. "Yeah; Poppa Trav says we should watch stuff like this so we can start learning how to protect ourselves," Jimmy said softly.

Nathan jumped to his feet and gestured. All the pillows and blankets flew away from the centre of the room, and the furniture moved out. A large empty space was revealed, around which Nathan made the pillows arrange themselves in a large circle. "Gabe, Trav. Make sure no-one enters the ring."

They nodded seriously as the made themselves comfortable with their sons. A fair number of others started to gather at the edge and found places to sit for the show.

Telez regarded both naked humans before him before stripping out of his VSO Commander's Uniform. Bright blue and naked, he swept back his hair and tied a knot in it. His antennae waved lightly from their position at the top of his high forehead just before the hairline. "I am prepared, Commanders. I shall fight Andorian style. Jason, you take Suus Mahna, and Nathan, you take Mok'bara."

They both nodded while Jason took the standard Vulcan stance, leaving room for Nathan to assume the Klingon one.

"Begin," Jason said, his voice clear of emotion.

Telez lunged in towards Nathan who pulled back to defend against the swift attack, but as soon as Jason moved in to assist his bonded, Telez changed direction and sent the side of his hand at Jason's crotch. He hit nothing but air as Jason skilfully flowed around the blow, landing a solid one to the small of Telez' back. The Andorian fell and rolled to his feet, sweeping Nathan off his own in the process, before springing up and tackling Jason to the ground.

Trav and Gabe exchanged low whistles as both of their sons paid rapt attention to the sparring match before them. "They sure don't teach that in gym class!" Trav giggled.

Jason allowed Telez to bring him to the ground, but used his momentum to send the Andorian over and away from him, thus giving him the time to flip himself back to his feet and face his blue brother. Telez had also regained his feet just as quickly, and was heading back towards Jason when he was sent head over heels by a well aimed kick from Nathan.

They sparred faster and faster, and many of the blows landed could be clearly heard, making most of the guys watching wince.

Jason was the first to be felled by a blow hard enough to keep him from getting back to his feet instantly. He just pressed his face to the carpet as he tried to regain his breath. Telez, seeing that Jason was down for longer than two seconds, turned his full attention to Nathan, as per the Division rules for sparring.

Nathan grinned in a feral manner at him. While Jason had been emotionless throughout, as had Telez, Nathan was acting much like a Klingon. The rage at seeing his bonded on the ground brought renewed vigour to the fair skinned blond boy, and within ten seconds, Telez was lying on his back clutching at his stomach.

"End," Jason wheezed before rolling onto his own back to lie side by side with his brother. The rage on Nathan's face fell away instantly, and he flopped down to the other side of Telez, and began to gently rub his bright blue belly soothingly.

"Good fight," Telez noted softly before rolling to one side and kissing Nathan's lip gently. He did the same for Jason then all three just lay there - breathing hard and sweating profusely.

"Tee Shirts... Popcorn... Peanuts... Gett'm before they're gone!" Beau, Jamie, and Jacob chanted as they walked into the room and started milling around the crowd, all three carrying boxes. "Last chance before the main event!"

"Main event?" Nathan giggled, "What, you want us to get down and dirty right here?!"

"Goof," Antony said with a grin from the doorway to the Dining Room, "I don't think so, horn-dog. Besides, Tel don't get loaned out unless I'm being loaned too! And no, no chance."

"You did well, Nathan," Korris added, nodding in approval. His full Klingon armour was gleaming brightly as he stood there, and his brother was giggling next to him. "You performed that last move excellently. I am honoured to be your teacher."

Gabe looked at the tee-shirt that Beau had just tossed in his lap. "Clan Klingon Battle Royale??" he asked, shooting a glance at Antony and the two Klingon boys.

Koth sniggered, "Well, we thought - you guys have probably not seen two Klingons fight, have you?"

"No... but how long have you planned this... I mean, TEE-SHIRTS???" Travis asked with a giggle.

"Replicators," Korris grunted as he and Koth made their way into the circle. They picked up Jason and Nathan between them and dumped them together on the nearest sofa, and Telez was soon dumped with them.

All three naked boys giggled, and Jason said, "You going to keep with the current dress code?" He giggled more when Taron and Marie, the two sabre-toothed tiger kittens pounced onto their owners and started purring.

Korris looked at his brother, who was dressed just as he was. "It is up to you, little brother. I believe we both have the skill to survive it."

Koth tilted his head to the side as he thought. "Mmm. Up to the Clan, I think. Seeing two Klingons fight with Bat'leth and Mek'leth is fun anyway - do they want to see it done butt naked?"

"Can you do it in battle gear? That might be kewl," Davey asked softly, unsure of how his request might be taken.

Koth grinned at him, "Sure thing, bro. We can do it sans armour next time, for those interested in raising the stakes."

Korris nodded his approval. "Our skills will not be put to the test in a dangerous situation this time, on request from Davey. Are you ready, Koth-boy?"

Koth drew his Mek'leth blades and twirled them in his hands. "Qapla'," he grinned at his brother.

Korris drew his Bat'leth and formed his stance... and waited.

Jason grinned. "Begin. Fight with honour."

Sparks started to fly instantly as the dual blade wielding Koth clashed against the long blade that Korris swung at his head.

Koth was moving quickly, and both hands seemed a blur as he struck out and defended with equal fluidity. Korris was the one bringing the most audible reactions from the crowd of kids, however, for the large gleaming Bat'leth seemed to sing in the air as he spun and used it with a skill that seemed unreal.

"Such is the 'Way of the Bat'leth' and the 'Way of the Mek'leth'," Jason intoned in a Klingon accent. "The 'Master of War' and the 'Master of Strategy'. Glory in the thick of battle, and Glory directing - when they work as one, none can stand against the Empire of the Klingons. Where the Mek'leth commands, so the Bat'leth goes. Where the Bat'leth brings low, there the Mek'leth finishes. Unequal, yet one. Unalike, yet the same. We are Klingons. Hear our roar. In Kahless' Name."

If the boys had thought Jason and Nathan fighting Telez had been a good show, then they could only gape at the two alien brothers as they, seemingly, tried to eviscerate each other.

Jason let them continue for another five minutes before saying loudly, "End Combat!"

The two Klingons broke apart quickly and bowed to each other. They sheathed their blades and hugged amid loud applause.

Oliver giggled from the doorway, "Geez, guys - you showing off again?"

"Yes," both Klingons grinned back wolfishly.

"You need to teach me that," Gabe said as he looked at Korris.

Korris appraised Gabe quickly. "You will need to master the Mek'leth before the Bat'leth. As it is his chosen path, Koth is required to teach you before I. I will assist, but he will be your Blade-Master until he deems you ready. Then, I will teach you the Lord of Blades."

"Just tell me when we can start." Gabe responded seriously. "I'm ready when you are."

Koth became serious, "Tomorrow. 0900 hours, in the Barrack's gym. You and your bonded. The first few lessons will require you both. The other half of your soul must understand what you are doing. Is that acceptable to you both?"

Gabe glanced at Travis, and saw the unspoken question in his eyes. "I swore I'd protect you and our sons with my life. None of you will ever be abused again."

Travis nodded. "I'll back you then, Hon."

Gabe turned back to Koth. "We'll be there."

Koth nodded. "By blood and honour, I take you as my pupil," he drew a small Klingon knife from his hip sheath and drew it lightly across his palm. Dark purple/red blood arose from the shallow cut as he handed the blade to Gabe.

Gabe copied the motion without a wince, and pressed his palm together with Koth. "By blood and honour, I accept you as my teacher."

Koth then presented his bloodied hand to Travis. He said softly, "You do not need to cut yourself, brother. Not after what you have been through. I will take it as symbolism if you simply say the words and link hands."

Travis nodded as he took Koth's hand. "By blood and honour, I also accept you as teacher," Travis whispered. Then, "Will you teach me something as well? I don't think I can do the blades, but..."

Koth pulled the trembling boy up and into a full hug as Korris said, "You have sworn an oath on blood to my brother. I shall teach you Mok'bara, Klingon Martial Arts, and your sons also. In time, you will find the courage within." He turned to the others in the room watching in reverent silence, "And that goes for any here in Clan Short. The first step to finding your courage is in finding your centre, which is what Mok'bara teaches. If you wish to learn, I and my family shall help you. If you wish to go further, there are four Mek'leth warriors in the Dragon who shall stand as your Blade-Master."

Jimmy pipped up bravely, "You'll teach me to be like Uncle Nathan?"

Korris glanced down at the smaller boy and held out his arms in an offered hug.

Jimmy glanced at both parents, waiting for their nods that it was safe to accept the offered hug. At nods from them both, he stood and joined in the hug with Korris. Korris lifted him up and sat him over his hip. "Little human, you have a lion inside, and I will help you find him, control him, and release him. You and your big brother both. You shall roar as Kahless, I promise you," Korris whispered softly before kissing Jimmy's forehead.

Viccy moved over towards the far corner of the room where a man was standing alone. A man crying softly into his hands.

"Uncle Mike; it'll be okay. Really it will," Viccy said with a gentle smile as she reached out with her abilities and helped still Mike Reynold's emotions.

Mike smiled down at her through his tears, then reached and pulled the eight year old girl into his arms. "I know. I knew on Monday when I spoke with Gabe and Travis, but now I really know." He paused and looked over to where Jason, Nathan, the Andorian and two Klingons were comforting and whispering to his nephews and their new parents. "Your family is just... just... I don't have the words."

"We just do what we'd like others to do for us, Uncle Mike," Viccy whispered sadly to him. "But it seems like a lot of people don't wanna do nice things. But we won't stop just because they won't do good things."

Mike squeezed her tightly for a second, "That is what makes your family, Cory's family, the Unit and my family so special, Viccy. And I'm so very glad I'm a part of it." He looked again at Korris, who was now lightly tickling a chortling Jimmy. "Can those Klingons really help?"

"Yeah. You know about Koth being raped, but Korris was too. They both know, and they're both fighting and helping other to fight. Yeah, they and Gabe and Trav will make it happen. Both us Clans will," Viccy grinned before settling in, her head on Mike's shoulders, to enjoy the cuddle.

Meanwhile, Oliver had moved into the circle and was standing by the two Klingon boys. "Geez, you stink. Get yer smelly butts to the showers!"

Koth glowered at Oliver for a second before laughing. "Yeah," he giggled as he sniffed at himself, "we do. Come on, bros. Let's shower. You too, Tony!" he yelled over at the tall welsh boy.

Telez, Jason and Nathan stood up and ran at Antony before he could protest and had him 'shower ready' and blushing scarlet in seconds, while Korris placed Jimmy gently on Gabe's lap. He and his brother also took off their armour and laid their weapons reverently down upon them before following the others towards the nearest bathroom.

Just as he was entering, Jason turned and grinned at his son. "Oliver?"

"Yes, Daddy?"

"I'll take that as your first official order, Captain Evans."

"Ca... WHAT?!" Oliver shouted back in shock.

Seriously, Jason nodded at him, "You earned it. Saving those six boys, nearly dying - everything. Congratulations, Captain. Now, go get some breakfast for me, Nath' and Tel, will you? We won't be long!"

Jason closed the door behind him and followed the other five boys into the huge shower area. Koth was already messing with the control, while Antony was being tickled by Korris and Nathan. "Tel?" Jason asked his blue brother. "What did you need me for? When you woke me, I mean."

"Oh, that. Just some mission reports and housekeeping orders that need finalizing," Telez answered as he rinsed his long white-blond hair under the warm water. "Your mother has the main report from Oliver about last night's meeting up north about Starfleet, Grandfather has answered your message with just one word, 'Yes', and Admiral Morrow was wondering if you wanted to have the VSO take part in three science missions in the Terran Sector?"

"Okay," Jason nodded, growing serious. "Yes, huh? Boy, the FCC are in for a shitstorm. What are those three missions in regards too?"

"A comet not seen in one hundred years is reaching the turning point to head back into Earth space, and the tail goes through some remarkable changes, so the Vulcan Science Academy says. He wants a ship there to witness it, and wonders if you are interested as well. There's a Class 7 Ion storm forming up a ways past Pluto, and the USS Newton is going there to monitor it. It's likely to turn into a class 8 before the end of the day, and there hasn't been a class 8 in Earth controlled space since First Contact. Lastly, he needs to know if you want to get involved with a problem regarding proto-matter."

"Mmm, okay," Jason murmured as he lathered up Koth's back and hair, "Tell him I'll think about it, but the proto-matter one sounds most important."

"Okay. Now, come here and turn around, bro. Can't let Nathan always have the washing rights to that cute butt of yours!" Telez giggled.

"HEY!" Nathan and Antony protested, grinning at them both as Jason and the Andorian blew raspberries at them.

"Humans," Korris muttered lovingly. "I love humans."

---

Meanwhile in Teri's House:

"Kenny's still asleep?" Kevin asked Levi curiously. "It's a quarter to eight!"

Levi nodded and giggled, "Uh huh. He and Rory were busy last night. Kinda like you and Uncle Joel, only more!"

Joel blushed. "Don't wanna disturb them, then," he whispered shyly.

Kevin giggled, "We won't! Come on, Levi! Can you take us there?"

"Sure."

A second later they, and the two cheetahs, were in the Thompson kitchen - and Allen spat his coffee all over the bar table.

"Morning, Poppa!" the two boys chorused before giggling.

After he had finished choking, he croaked, "Morning - I see you're both having fun! Transporters malfunctioning again?"

"Nope," Kevin giggled happily, "Levi just wanted to prank you!"

Joel ran over and climbed into Allen's arms. "Kev wants to show me his drawings and Kenny's models and stuff. Can we wake them?"

"I was about to. Juana is changing Edovina, but the others are all still asleep. You want to wake Jake and Xain as well?" Allen asked as he cuddled the small Vulcan.

Kevin giggled more, "Okay, but we won't do what we did with Joel's brothers - Jake'll kill me!"

"What did you do?" Allen asked through his grin.

Joel explained, "We tried playing the American National Anthem on two saucepans, but they stopped us after only a few seconds of it!"

Allen was shaking with silent laughter. "If Jake didn't kill you, I'm sure Rory would!"

"What I was thinking," Kevin grinned as he came over to quickly hug his Pop. He then tugged on Joel's hand, "Come on! Let's get my big brothers up first, then we can wake my little one!"

Mercury and Hermes found a stool by the bar to sit on. "Safer to stay here," Mercury giggled at Allen.

He laughed, then went to the fridge. "We're out of cream, but will warm milk do?"

The Cats started licking their lips.

"Kenny's younger than you?" Joel asked curiously as he ran through the kitchen door and into the hall with his friend.

"Uh huh, by twenty three minutes," Kevin nodded as he led Joel upstairs. "Like Tommy is for you, Ken's my 'big' little brother!"

They ran down the hallway and quietly opened the door leading to Jake and Xain's room. There were two more doors inside a smaller hall like room. "What's this one?" Joel whispered.

"Their own bathroom," Kevin whispered back as he moved to the other door and cracked it open. "Shhh, they're still asleep. Xain has real good hearing, and I've never managed to pounce him without him waking up to catch me first. Shall we try?"

Joel grinned and nodded, "I can pounce further than you, so if I pounce Xain I should manage it without waking him first. I'd know if he'd hear - same hearing!"

"Then as soon as you land I'll run at Jake," Kevin giggled silently.

It worked. Very well, in fact.

"Sui'T'Khasi ahm!" Xain exclaimed as Joel landed lightly on his chest.

Jake, however, was far more explicit when he got a chest full of Kevin. "Jesus fucking..."

"Watch your language, Jake!" Kevin giggled as he hugged his big brother.

Joel sniggered as he looked down into Xain's eyes, which were wide at his sudden awakening. "Good morning, Xain," he murmured happily.

Xain raised an eyebrow and said nothing.

Joel's brow creased in worry. "Did... did I do something wrong?" he whispered fearfully, beginning to shake.

Jake answered, after getting control of his racing heart, "No, Joel. 'Good Morning' doesn't mean a lot to Vulcans. It's not logical to say it."

Joel glanced between both boys, then fixed his eyes on Xain. "Why not?"

Xain answered calmly, almost echoing Allen's words used when he had answered the same question for Kenny, "Morning is simply the rotation of the planet and the location of the local star. It happened yesterday and it will happen again tomorrow. It is morning, that is obvious and expected, and saying if it is 'good' or 'bad' does not change that fact."

Joel thought on that for the briefest of seconds, then, "Xain, when we Vulcans say good-bye to someone, what is the normal way of doing that?"

Xain raised an eyebrow. "We usually say 'Live long and prosper'," he replied. "Why do you ask?"

Joel smiled, "Is not that farewell just as illogical? Do we have any control over the life and prosperity of the one we say it to?"

Xain shook his head. "No. It is simply an expression of our hope or desire for that person to live a long life and to grow and prosper. Joel, I fail to see where you are leading with this line of..."

Joel kissed Xain briefly, silencing him. He then grinned, "When humans say 'Good Morning' it means the same. It can mean that the morning itself is a good one, that the weather is good, or something. It can also mean that it is a morning to be good on. Also that you or others feel good that morning, or finally, that you are 'wishing' for people to have a 'good' morning. Or day, in fact. It's the same as 'Live long and prosper'. It's a 'wish' or 'hope' for someone to have a good day."

"Fascinating," Xain murmured.

Kevin looked down into Jake's eyes. "Logic war part two?" he asked.

"Yes, but who won?" Jake giggled.

"There was no war; there was just an interesting discussion on the merits of personal greetings as compared between two worlds," Xain said.

Joel nodded at them. "What he said!" he giggled.

"Where's Vina?" Jake asked, looking over at the empty crib.

"Poppa said Mamacita has her," Kevin supplied helpfully.

"Good," Jake smiled up at him happily.

Joel kissed Xain again, then gave Jake one before tugging at Kevin's shoulder, "Come on; Kenny now!"

Kevin sniggered and crawled off the bed with his friend.

Xain watched them leave, glanced at Jake - and gave a small grin.

"Just what I was thinking, T'hy'la," Jake murmured before starting a morning kiss.

Outside his room, Kevin was quickly outlining his plan to Joel. Joel sniggered and nodded, "Okay, but won't Poppa be mad?"

Kevin shook his head, "Nope. We're gonna change the bedding today anyhow..."

Joel shrugged, "Okay, if you say so."

They both crept into the room and through to the en-suite. After grabbing the two glasses and filling them with cold water, then sneaked back and up to Kenny's bed. Rory was quietly snoring while Kenny breathed onto his chest softly.

Two glasses of cold, COLD water being poured into your faces is not the best way to be woken in the morning.

Funny for the pranksters. Shocking for the prankees.

Kevin could run pretty fast, Joel had to admit as he watched Kenny chase him around the room. He did not get that long to watch, however, as Rory had reached out and snagged him into a firm hold. His laughter rang out as Rory went to town on his armpits and ribs with tickles.

"Got you back! Got you back!" Kevin squealed as Kenny tackled him into Kevin's own bed. "Remember last week? Now we're even, Ken!"

Kenny grinned down at him, "But I didn't get your boyfriend at the same time! You're evil, bro!"

After Joel's laughter had began to turn to whines of approaching fear, Rory stopped his attack and simply hugged the boy close. "I'd like to know what I did to deserve that, Kev!"

"Nothin'," Kevin giggled from the headlock and noogie Ken had him in, "We just pranked the others, so we couldn't leave you out!"

Joel nodded. "Yeah. We had to be fair, didn't we?" he sniggered.

Rory hugged him closer. "You seem different. I like it, Joel," he murmured. "You don't seem as scared any more."

Joel twisted in the hug to look at him as Kenny let Kevin up. "I... we Shared our emotions last night. We helped each other - Cory, Sean, Kev and me. I... I feel calmer, but no; I'm still afraid the same, Rory. I am just happier than I was, and I think that covers it a bit," he explained seriously.

Rory nodded. "Okay. That's good too. Just remember, we'll help with your fears. You just have to ask."

Nodding, Joel gave Rory a brief kiss, then a mischievous look came over his face. "So, Kev. You gonna show your twin Levi's present to you or not?"

Kevin started giggling nervously. "Well... oh, okay! I hope you don't mind too much, Kenny," he started to explain, "but once I grow to match you, in a few years, we're still not gonna be identical!"

Kenny looked curious, "What do you mean?"

Joel sniggered. "Be easier if we shower so you can see," he prompted.

Kevin nodded happily.

"I'll bring your chair over," Kenny grinned to Rory.

"I could carry you," Joel offered as he stood up.

Rory blinked. "I'm heavy, Joel," he said to the tiny waif.

"I'm Vulcan, Rory," Joel giggled.

Rory rolled his eyes, "Duh! I keep forgetting that. You don't act like I expect, Joel!"

Joel giggled again as he lifted Rory up easily and carried him into the bathroom. Kenny ran into the shower and set down a plastic chair for Rory to use, and Joel sat the larger boy on it gently. He then went out of the shower and both he and Kevin stripped down quickly, keeping their backs to the two inside who were adjusting the water to a comfortable temperature.

"Okay," Joel giggled, "spot the difference!"

They turned around and went inside to join the other two.

Kenny's forehead creased in confusion, "I don't see..."

"Wow," Rory gasped. "Ken, look..."

He pointed. Kenny gasped. Kevin giggled.

"Levi," he explained. "He heard me wish something, and offered. I said yes."

"Wow," Kenny murmured. "You're right, we won't be completely identical; but it's good, Kev. Suits you," he sniggered.

Joel laughed as Kevin blushed. "I agree!"

---

Joel and Kevin got to the kitchen first and sat down to watch the others get their breakfast. Juana was busying about helping Allen get the food ready, and a small baby was in a stroller next to the table, watching Joel.

"That Vina?" Joel asked as Jake walked in.

"Yes. She's our daughter," he replied as Xain joined him.

Joel got up and slowly moved over to look closer at the little person who was staring at him.

He murmured, "She's beautiful. Can... can I hold her?"

"You can feed her if you'd like," Jake offered.

Joel looked up and nodded eagerly.

"Sit down and I'll bring her to you," Jake motioned as he moved to pick up his little girl. Joel sat down next to Kevin and automatically held his arms ready to hold the child.

"Have you cared for infants in the past?" Xain asked him curiously.

Joel looked up at him, then down at his arms that were in the perfect position to correctly hold a baby. "No," he murmured. "Never."

Jake shrugged, and placed his baby in Joel's arms tenderly. "You're doing it right anyway," he smiled. "Here's the bottle."

The others started to get their food and sit down, but they all stopped when Joel started quietly singing in Vulcan.

Kevin was watching in wonder as Joel's eyes kept alternating between his natural blue and a different shade of blue.

Allen was about to ask where Joel had heard that song before when they all stopped and listened in shocked silence as Joel stopped singing, and started speaking aloud.

"Lau-kau vikuvau du; lau-ozhika ha'ge vu yut; lau-yeht-gav karik-tor du; heh lau-ashaya klashau vu khaf-spol ek'wak. K'fai'ei Surak'am khaf, Shal kudau du," Joel said, his voice echoing sonorously.

"Joel?" Kevin whispered, lightly shaking his friend's shoulder.

Joel blinked and smiled up at him. "Yeah?" he asked, his voice peaceful.

"Why'd you say that?" Kevin asked.

"Say what?"

Kevin blinked. "Not again... umm, you just blessed Vina!"

"I did? What did I say?" Joel asked curiously.

Allen answered for Kevin, "You said in Vulcan: 'May wisdom surround you, may logic light your path, may justice strengthen you, and may love guard your heart forever. Through Surak's blood, I bless you'."

Joel blinked around at them all. They were all smiling, so it must have been a good thing. 'Was that you?' he thought, sending his question to that area of his strange little mind that he seemed to sense another presence.

'Yes, Child. It was. She is beautiful, and it is the same blessing that I spoke over another child, so very long ago...' came the whispered answer.

Joel got up quickly and handed Vina back to Jake. "I... I have to... I'll be right back..." he murmured.

As Kevin got up to follow him, Joel kissed him and said, "Not yet. I need... I need to 'think' about something..." He then ran out of the back door and to the far side of the swimming pool. Juana watched through the window as Joel sat down with his back to the wall, his face a mask of pain... and discovery.

---

'You're a woman, ain't you?' Joel asked silently.

'Yes,' came a stoic response.

Joel continued seriously, 'I thought you... felt female... I just wanted to be sure. Last night you spoke of the 'sands' of your 'world', and you also said Patriarch. You're a Vulcan, aren't you?'

'Correct. At least I was, in life.'

Joel started shaking more and more. 'I'm carrying your Katra, ain't I?'

'Correct.'

Sobs the like of which had never sprung from him before caused Joel to fall to his side. He couldn't stop them, nor slow them. He barely felt the world around him, and did not even notice Allen, Xain and Kevin wrapping him in their arms, nor Juana standing there watching him in grave concern.

'... Mother?...' he managed to ask.

A pause, then, 'Yes, Joel. I am your mother.'

Joel kept crying, even while being carried inside and up to Kevin's bedroom. He continued to sob as Kevin spooned in behind him on the bed, and never noticed any of it.

Eventually, even with his continued tears and wails spilling forth, he asked, 'Why was I there, Mother? Why weren't you able to keep me safe? Why'd I have to... why?'

'Had I known what type of world it was, I would never have let you away from my side, my son. I was dying, and I tried to give you a life. I was not aware of the type of people that lived there. Had I been aware, you would have died with me. I am sorry, my son.'

Joel's crying started to lessen after a few more minutes. He felt Kevin's arms around him. He twisted about so that he could hide his face in his friend's chest. 'I wish... I wish...'

'As do I, Child. We shall speak more when you are ready. Be at peace, Child of Vulcan; I shall be watching over you now. This time, I will be there. The mother you now have, Teri Short; she is a good woman. You are safe with her. You are safe now... my son.'

"Joel?" he then heard his friend whisper to him. "What's wrong?"

Joel sniffed and said slowly, "I know why I keep doing things and saying things without knowing, Kev."

"Why?"

"'Cos I... I'm carrying my mother's Katra; my mother's living soul is sharing my body."

Kevin had nothing he could say to that at first. "Oh," he murmured.

Joel then looked up at him in horror. "Umm, Kev?"

"Yeah?"

"My MOTHER is in my head... and we... twice... ummm..."

Silence.

Then, "Oh, shit!"

'Do not be alarmed, my son. I can close off all external information that I receive through your body. I neither felt nor saw nor heard anything once I became aware of what was happening.'

Joel sighed in complete relief, then relayed the information to Kevin.

"That's... that's good," Kevin said, looking into Joel's eyes with caution; looking for those other eyes.

'Please let your T'hy'la know that he has a very attractive and sexy body, though, Joel.'

Joel did so while giggling.

Kevin went beet red. "Thanks... I think..."

'Once you meet your big brothers again, you may also relay the same message to them as well.'

"Cory'll shit a brick!" Joel started laughing.

---

A little later, Kevin watched Joel paw through picture after picture, his face wide with wonder. "These are good, Kev," he said in awe. "Real good. And they are all different people and you feel what they feel?"

"Yes," Kevin nodded, "and Kenny can tell you lots more about them; like where they are, what they are thinking and doing. I know their names, can feel what they feel and can talk to their hearts through the pictures. I help a lot of them that way."

"What's in that bag?" Joel pointed to yet another bag full of papers.

"Uh," Kevin hesitated. "They are bad ones, Joel. They are people... people who died. I can't help them any more. They hurt to look at."

"Oh," Joel looked sad for a second, "I understand. Okay, I won't look in there, Kev."

Kenny entered the bedroom carrying a plate of cookies, "Here, Joel. Just finished baking, and Mamacita said these are for you and Kev... did you really eat garlic bread yesterday like I just heard from Sean, bro?" he asked his twin.

Kevin nodded with a giggle, an innocent expression on his face, "Was really nice too!"

Kenny shot him a look that cried out distrust. "Why does that face make me worry?"

"Dunno what you mean!" Kevin sniggered.

Joel wisely remained quiet and started on the cookies.

A Starfleet regulation Vacuum suit appeared on Kenny's bed just that second, and a note was attached. Kenny blinked and walked up to it and read the note that Kyle had sent him. He glanced at the two innocent angels smiling sweetly at him. "You have GOT to be kidding me! You two are just like Cory?!" he exclaimed.

Joel ate another cookie. Kevin whistled tunelessly.

"I'm never gonna let you eat garlic bread ever," Kenny muttered to himself as he walked from the room.

Kevin and Joel dissolved into gales of laughter.

After laughing themselves out, Kevin got up and walked over to the shelves Kenny had made for his models. "Here's Kenny's stuff, Jo'," he beckoned his friend to his side. Joel moved over quickly - with the cookies. He was quite taken with these cookies, he found. He popped one into Kevin's mouth absently and looked at the various models. "That's the Enterprise!" he gave an awed gasp. "It's great!"

Kevin nodded, "Yeah; my brother is really good with these. I help him sometimes, but not on the best ones here. I'm not that good with them, so we have a few others that we do together."

"Does Kenny draw?" Joel asked as he looked at the Defiant on display.

Kevin nodded, "Yeah, we do some drawing stuff together too. Come on, I'll show you."

He moved to his bedside cabinet and pulled out a small folder and handed one piece of paper to Joel.

Joel tilted the picture one way and then the other. "Is this a stick insect trying to eat it's own butt, or something?" he asked in complete confusion.

Kevin started laughing and nearly choked on his latest cookie.

Joel looked at the now red faced and howling boy. "What did I say?"

Kevin laughed harder. Kenny walked back into the room from Xain's where he'd been warning them of the lethal combination of Joel + Kevin + Garlic Bread = Toxic Gas Cloud. "What's up?" he asked, a small grin on his face as he watched his brother roll to his back in hysterics.

Joel showed him the picture and again asked the same question.

Kenny blushed, then laughed himself, "It's Possum, Rory's dog."

Kevin laughed even harder, earning him his twin sitting on his chest. "If your boyfriend don't stop laughing, I'll show you the Enterprise he tried to put together.

Kevin didn't stop laughing, so Kenny got up and found the 'model'.

"Um, Kev? If that was a real starship, then as soon as the Warp Field was turned on you'd have scrambled eggs for the crew! The nacelles don't point that way!" Joel laughed.

Kevin shuffled over to his friend, "I'd say 'bite me', but I think you'd really do that, so does 'kiss me' sound better?"

Joel didn't answer him verbally.

Kenny walked out to let them carry on, taking the USS 'Scrambled Egg' with him. "You have five minutes, then we have to go to Charleston. Oh, and Sean just said that your Vulcan clothes will be waiting for you there."

The boys were too busy to respond.

---

:Joel's Perspective:

I could kiss Kevin forever.

Really. I felt so at peace in his arms, and I could feel that he was still and quiet inside as he held me there.

I felt like laughing and crying every time our lips connected.

I... I so wish I could say that I love him, but do I really? Is this love?

He looked so beautiful. I'm just lying there, on top of him, and his eyes... I was lost in them.

Damn! Why can't I tell him?

"Time to go, Jo'," he whispered to me, his lips curving sweetly into a smile.

I kissed them again greedily, then sighed. "Okay."

He giggled, "Don't worry. We can do this more, after."

"Okay!" was my automatic excited response before I could even think about it. I grinned at him as I lifted up and off him, then I helped him from the floor.

We ran downstairs to find Xain and Jake waiting with the Doctor.

"Sorry for rushing you," the Doc smiled at us both, causing us to blush, "but we're on a schedule."

"Not like you can stop the clock or anything," I giggled, fighting with my burning face.

He poked his tongue out then giggled himself, "This may feel weird, guys, but don't freak out. You're perfectly safe."

"We shall endeavour to not 'freak out', Ish-Hassu," came Xain's bland reply, and I just had to giggle more. Xain was so funny.

"Kenny comin'?" Kev asked as his arm snaked about my waist again.

Jake shook his head at him as he said, "He and Rory are coming over with Dad, later."

"Okay. Hold onto your bits, guys. Folding now!" Doc said, and everything went really weird in my vision. It was like the world around us folded away while another place folded in. Even my body felt like it was slipping from one page of a book into another.

It was so KEWL!

"Again!" I giggled as we appeared in a large building surrounded by kids.

"Sorry," Doc laughed at me, "only one ride per hug, and I ain't had no Joel-Snuggles yet!"

Well, he had to say it, so I pounced him. He was nice to snuggle with, even while he was giggling and on his back on the floor. It did feel weird, his double heart beat. Weird but nice.

"You can get a few hundred 'rides' after for this snuggle, Joel," he whispered in my ear after a few minutes.

"Cool," I answered as he lifted me up off him and put me on my feet again.

I turned to see Cor and Sean coming over holding hands, and I was about to run to them to get some cuddles when I heard some of these strange kids whispering things about their wedding yesterday. I didn't like what they said and started to get angry, but before I could say anything, Mikey, Davey and Pablito appeared and Mikey whistled real loud. I clapped my hands over my ears cause they hurt so much, that's how loud he was. I quickly ran to Cory, and Kevin joined me there as he hugged us both to his front.

The room got so quiet as we all just stared at the angels. Then Davey got up and gathered all the smaller kids and led them from the room.

Mikey started talking, but I couldn't hear much as my ears still hurt and were making buzzing noises from his whistle. He then seemed to call my brother Adam and some other older kid up to where he and Pablito were standing, and Pablito started to undress them.

Adam looked so upset, and I could feel that he was getting ashamed and embarrassed there, topless in front of us all. And that other kid was as well.

"That's not fair!" I said, not realising that I was speaking so loud. Everyone looked at me, and at another small kid like me just across the room.

Seems like we both felt the same way. I started walking up to Adam while pulling my clothes off. If my brother had to show his scars and be ashamed, then I would too!

I felt Kevin touch my arm when I started on my zip for my jeans, and he whispered, "Not everything, T'hy'la. The top is enough."

I smiled at him, then over at that other boy, who was also pulling his top off. We were both scarred like Adam and the other boy were. I think that little boy might be the older one's brother.

We ran up and grabbed our own brother's hand.

The other kid grinned up at his brother, and said quietly, "Not fair."

I agreed, looking up at Adam, "Yeah. If you're bein' looked at, then we're gonna be looked at too, Lil'bro!"

Adam gave my hand a squeeze and Mikey smiled at us both. Then we stood there, with everyone gawking at us; at our scars. I know mine were only pale marks in my now smooth skin, but it did feel weird to have people pay attention this way to them. I started to blush.

Mikey then said, "I'm sure many of you are wondering what we are doing here? This is to show all of you one thing. We were all hurt. These boys bear the scars of it, in more ways then a lot of the rest of you, but on your hearts, the scars are just as plain. You all know the pain the the Unit has been through, as they lost the most family members, but understand... they are all our brothers. Most of us may not have known them, but they were family none the less. Everyone knows where Adam Short's scars come from, but very few know where Adam Casey's are from, and I'm not going to be the one to tell you. However, every single scar that he caries, holds a brief glimpse into the life he led prior to forming the Unit. Every single scar he carries tells a story about how he became the commander of the group you all call the Unit. Physical scars are easy to take, just ask him. It's the scars that we all carry on our hearts, and our souls that link every single one of us together."

I had to agree to that last bit, so I nodded at the large mass of boys watching us. I saw the other small boy nodding as he stood next to this Adam Casey; he and I must have been through something alike. I noticed others nodding out in the group of people; some were from the Compound, and some were from this other group, this Unit my angel-brother mentioned.

"Tyler, Cory, and Viccy, would you three please come up here?" Mikey called out, and up they came to stand with us. My brother then said, "I know that many of the Unit members were upset about the wedding that went on yesterday, and I can see your point, to those that don't know everything that was going on, it did look bad. However, I would like Tyler to let everyone here know what Cory was feeling when he was at his lowest point, and then hopefully everyone can understand why the wedding had to happen when it did. Cory, is this okay with you?"

I quickly looked up into Blondie's face, and saw him nod. The next second, I again felt everything that I had last night when we nearly lost Cory. I reached and clung to my brother's hand as well as Adam's. Everyone around started crying at this burst of pain, but I didn't. I knew different. I knew better. Cory still hurt, but he was getting better now. I smiled up at him, and he squeezed my hand back and returned my smile.

I really liked his smile. It made my belly do flip flops.

What can I say? My brother is cute! They all are!

"Now," I heard Mikey say as the wash of feelings from Cory stopped, "I would ask that Viccy show to everyone what Adam has been feeling."

Again, a flood of emotions, and they were a lot like Cory's; only thing different was that I could still feel the poison in them. He needed to cry, he really did. If this Adam Casey didn't deal with this very soon, I might have to help him, or he'd be as lost as Cor would have been!

Adam Casey sniffed after a moment of this experience and turned to face my big brother. Cory removed his hand from mine and reached to shake Adam's offered one, and was pulled into a hug.

This Adam would fit in well, I thought, then; he likes hugs too!

He pulled out of Cory's hug and saluted and said softly, "Now and forever Cory, you have my respect, and my loyalty... and my friendship."

Boy! That shivering thingie was back again, and I saw that it was affecting everyone!

Cory then went and made it stronger; "Will you accept brotherhood, please?" he asked Adam softly. "I swear upon my life five simple words; I'll be there for you. Until Time ends, I'll be by your side, if you will let me."

Shit. My back was tingling like... like... I dunno. It was well weird whatever it was.

Hell! Now everyone was doing the same! They were all making promises to each other and I was beginning to lose my balance!

"Me and mine to you and yours, from now till there is no more," Adam Casey said to Blondie, and then he cut his hand with his knife. He added, "This is the first of my new scars... the first of the scars that I will look upon with pride. Pride and brotherhood."

I nearly stopped Cory when he took the knife and cut his own hand as well. I don't like seeing him hurt... wow! Was this how he felt when he saw me hurting? Wow...

"Me and mine to you and yours, from now till there there is no more," he echoed Adam, and I fell over.

I was struggling to get back up when I heard the Guardian say inside my head //Time. Love. Blood. Bound together, interlinked Forever. For a Brotherhood that will Never Break//

It seemed echoed somehow, as if someone else was saying it, but all it really did was make me flop back to the ground again. The next thing I felt was Kevin helping me to stand up. "You okay?" he whispered and I felt him getting worried.

I nodded to him then kissed his nose quickly. I turned to look back at Adam Casey. I quickly went to him and hugged him. "Thank you," I whispered as I kissed his scars on his chest. "Thank you; you really made my big brother feel good then."

He smiled down into my face and picked me up. "Thanks, you guys made me feel real good too," he murmured as he hugged me tightly.

I giggled at him, kissed his lips quickly, then whispered, "You really need to cry soon, Mr Casey. I... I can feel your pain more than Viccy was showing, and you really need to cry. Okay? I don't wanna have to Share to heal you like I had to do with Cor. He nearly died. Please don't get that bad. Promise?"

He looked shocked and I could see that pain rise up in his eyes as he held me on eye level. He nodded slowly, and I had to force myself not to do a Sharing there and then as he said, "I promise. I'll spend time with my boyfriend after, and I'll... I'll deal with stuff then."

I kissed him again. "Good. I like you. I don't like you hurting. Crying is good. It helps me lots too. I cry about my pain, and then my brothers or Mama come and help me and the pain stops making me ill. It still hurts, but it's healing too. You go cry after with your brothers or Mama, and if you don't have a Mama, I can lend you mine, 'kay?"

He smiled sadly at me, then giggled. "That's okay, Joel. I have a 'Mama'. There she is, standing over there," he added, pointing at this nice looking lady.

I grinned. "Okay. How'd you know my name?"

"Cory told me about you Monday night in a private chat. Wasn't hard to match the name with the face, Joel. And call me Adam. You make me feel old calling me 'Mr Casey'!"

I giggled as he put me back on my feet. "That'll be confusing! I have a brother called Adam. Can I call you... ummm... Adz instead?" I asked brightly, grinning up at him.

He laughed at me. "I think I'd like that from you, Joel. Thank you. Yes, you can call me Adz."

---

:Normal Perspective:

"Cory?" Joel tugged on Cory's hand once his tee-shirt was back in place. "I gotta message for you and Big Ted."

Sean turned around from the hug he and Logan had going. "Go for it, Elf," he said with a smile.

Joel grinned mischievously and pulled them both over to one side. Kevin followed, and started to smile when he noticed Teri standing near to them.

"Mother says you and Cor have very attractive and sexy bodies," Joel giggled.

Cory's jaw dropped open, and Sean started looking repeatedly between Joel and Teri. "Mom?!" he gasped in complete shock.

"Wrong 'Mom'... even though I think she might be right," Teri replied. She did come over and knelt by Joel. "First, congratulations. That's the quietest I've heard those two since the Clan started."

"I try my best," sniggered Joel as he looked at Teri with his huge, beautiful eyes.

"Mom!" Cory whined. "You're embarrassing us! And Lil'elf's done quite well at that already!"

"I'm your mother, I'm biased. You're both cute, so live with it," Teri chuckled. "You guys were even cute back when you used to try to 'help' Sean with his diaper, Cory... by removing it!"

Joel fell into Teri's arms, laughing. Sean decided that the wall behind him deserved more attention at that moment, while Cory looked like a fish out of water. "MOM!"

"Which one?" Teri asked, suddenly serious. She looked down at the chortling Vulcan in her arms. "Sweetie, can you tell my why you said what you said?"

Joel looked up at her and nodded. "Sorry, Blondie. Sorry, Big Ted... can you cuddle with us here so I can tell you? You too Kev?"

Kevin squashed himself into Teri's arms quickly, and the two blushing teens knelt down to complete the mass hug on the floor.

"My mother really did say that, big bros. She does think you are attractive and cute and even sexy. She thinks Kevin is too," Joel said, in complete seriousness.

"How?" Cory sputtered as his blush reached his toenails.

Sean, although also blushing, caught Joel's confused look at the not very eloquent question. "How'd you know what your mother would have thought, Joel?" he elaborated.

"Oh... umm, well... I kinda know where my Vulcan half comes from. My mother is... was... umm... she's Vulcan. And she's in me. Her Katra, I mean; her living spirit? I'm a Katra-Meskaraya. A Holder of a Katra," Joel explained. "My birth mother is... well... I've talked to her."

Kevin giggled, "And she took a shower with us!"

Joel's eyes partly changed their shading, and he suddenly ran a glance over Cory and Sean. "Yes, in the full light of day, my first reaction was the correct one. You are blessed, the two of you. Hearts so full of love, and fortunate to be contained in eye pleasing bodies," came a voice that was certainly NOT Joel's.

You would have thought that Cory and Sean were Mikyvis, they were glowing so brightly from their blushes. Teri said then, "I think we'd better let them calm down, little one, or else they're gonna burn themselves up. If your Mom wishes, and you are okay with it, she and I can talk about anything she thinks I should be doing to help you."

Joel looked with worry at his big brothers. He answered his Mama, "Yeah, she says you can... but..." he reached out and took Cory's hand, and did the same for Sean. "You're not gonna want me around to sleep with any more, are you?" he asked, beginning to tear up. "You're not gonna want my Mother to see you... like..."

He suddenly became stoic. Vulcan. Emotionless. His eyes fully changed shade and it was no longer Joel looking at them. It was now his mother. She started, "I want to explain, children. I was asleep when Joel went into the showers with you. When the water started and he began washing your hair, Patriarch of Sub-Clan Short, did I awaken. I beheld what was happening, and came to the conclusion as to where it would lead. I went deeply within my son's mind and closed off my knowledge of sight. I heard and felt everything up to the point that my son and his beloved started to love each other. I then regressed completely. I did not see anything that would cause you embarrassment. My views on your physical form are gained from the night before when you prepared for bed. Just as you feel content to walk naked before your own mother, and even other adults, so treat how I beheld you. Neither of you have anything to be ashamed of nor embarrassed about."

There was a stunned silence for a brief moment of time. Then she continued, still speaking through an unaware Joel, "Please. Please do not hurt my son by withdrawing from him. Please. I cannot see him hurt any more. I was in the dark for so long when he was shielded as human, and the gaining of his memories when your doctors changed him back hurt me deeply. Do NOT hurt him again, never again. Protect him. I cannot bear to see my precious child hurt again."

They all gasped as rage, anger and vicious, righteous fury started to radiate from Joel's frail body.

It was like a god of war had appeared in the child's skinny frame and the burning power of it smote out in all directions...

...the Rage of a Titan; the Wrath of God...

...the Anger of a Vulcan.

It vanished as fast as it had appeared. In an almost pleading tone, Joel's birth mother continued, "Please... please protect him. Defend him? I can only do so much, now. Only so much... please?"

Cory spoke for them both, "I swore to protect him with my life; nothing that you have said or done will ever change that."

"That's right; he's our brother, and we NEVER abandon our brothers," Sean added.

Joel's arms reached out as his mother within him made him lay his hands on his brother's cheeks. "I thank you. If I could, I would place myself as M'aih to you both, but the dead can do little to help the living; even when still here as a living Katra. However, just as I spoke over my son the hour of his birth, so I speak over you two now, and over my son's beloved." Kevin was pulled into the middle between his friend and the two teens. Joel's mother then blessed them, "May wisdom surround you, may logic light your path, may justice strengthen you, and may love guard your heart forever. Through Surak's blood... my blood... I bless you."

Joel went limp and fell back into Teri's arms. A whisper escaped his throat, "Lady Teri of Vulcan, carry the blood of my blood and flesh of my flesh to a quiet place. Be seated with him on your lap, and you and I shall talk. I have strength enough for a Meld before I need to recover. However, right now I make you Ko'mekh to Joel - if you will accept."

"I accept. Gladly," Teri choked out.

"Then it is done," came the whisper, "... climb the steps... of Mount Seleya..."

Teri rose and quickly carried Joel out and into a private room, leaving her two sons with Kevin... watching...

---

"So, did you learn who his mother is and who his dad is?" Cory asked Teri half an hour later.

Teri shook her head as she watched Joel run up to Kevin and start hugging him. "No. She would not tell me. She told me a lot about the things troubling Joel, and how she thinks I should deal with a few purely Vulcan issues he is going to have. However, she would not say anything else. Joel is not ready to know, and she is very protective of her son; and I gather she is worried about Joel's father finding out before he is found."

Cory sighed, "Damn. Would have been easy to get the Mikyvis to go find him."

The Doctor came over then and said, "Not Time yet, Blond-top."

Cory looked over at the Doc. "No offence Galli, but if it'd make my Lil'elf happier I don't care WHO says the time is right."

The Doctor moved over and climbed into Cory's arms. After kissing the blond teen's cheek, he whispered, "For all things there is a Time, Cory. I know so few things about the next few days, but I do know this. If this changes, then we might upset the course of the Future in a bad way. And Joel's not ready for this yet. He will be, however. Very, VERY soon."

"You know who his father is, don't you?" Cory asked suddenly, holding the Time Lord tightly as if not wanting him to escape.

The Doctor nodded. "Yes, I do. It is not something subject to change, so I can honestly say I know. What is subject to change is you finding out. You will. Soon. But not from me."

"Tell me," Cory ordered.

The little Lord of Time shook his head. "I cannot. I will not. I am sorry, Heart of the Nexus. You must wait. Just ask Levi. If I attempted to tell you, I would be prevented from doing so. Do not worry, my friend. It will be all the better to let Time takes it's course. Surprising, shocking, but better."

He then Folded away and Cory was left holding onto nothing.

"Damn it," he muttered, and moved over to Sean, Joel and Kevin.

Xain came over to them, leading Jake with him. "I have been asked by Grandfather Sarek to perform the Vulcan Benediction with Joel at the service, Patriarch Cory. Kevin and Jake have been asked to take part to complete the four required for it. I need to prepare them for this, if they accept to do it," he informed Cory formally.

Cory glanced at the two smaller boys. Kevin nodded and Joel gave a small smile, "Yeah, I'll do it, Cor."

"Do we need to leave you, or can we stay with Joel a bit longer?" Sean asked Xain. "We've just had something shocking happen, and we just want to be close to our Lil'elf for now."

"Your presence will cause no adverse effect, Sean. In fact, your presence will be of aid to help centre Joel," Xain replied with a brief smile.

Jake smiled, "It won't be identical to the true Benediction as we do not have the required armour to wear, but our Vulcan clothing will do."

Kevin smiled widely, "I like you wearing those, Jake. You look good in them."

Jake pulled his little brother over for a cuddle as Xain lead them over to a quiet room at the Fire Station to start his explanation of the event they would partake in. When they entered the room, however, they found Jay Noble standing there; complete with four suits of ceremonial Vulcan Armour.

"These are for you. And this one is specifically for Joel. You'll find they all fit... exactly," he said mysteriously. "Also, Joel; we're getting your Sehlat dressed up in his own armour as well." He then Folded away quickly to join his Bonded.

Cory sighed, "Time Lords... they're worse than Mikyvis!"

"I heard that, Uncle Cory!" Bryce giggled as he popped in and goosed his uncle before vanishing again.

"Wait 'til you meet Q, Blondie," Joel grinned up at him as Cory rubbed at his sore butt briefly.

"Oh, be still my beating heart," Cory muttered with a half smile at his little brother. "I'd be so excited, I swear..."

Joel stuck his tongue out at him before going over to look at the armour pointed out by Jay. "Wow, this is nice. What's this symbol of a sword?" he asked, showing them the strange layered breastplate piece.

Xain's eyes widened. "That is Sa'ren, the Sword of Surak. Only... I have not seen any armour with it whole before... except... for... Please wait here, Joel. I need to talk to Grandfather Sarek." He turned and left the room quickly.

"Sa'ren?" Joel asked Cory, his eyebrow raising.

Cory pointed to the Crest of House Surak on his Robe. "This is it, Joel. It's the broken Sword and symbol of the Family of Sarek. I am allowed to bear it as I am a Patriarch of the Family. Sean's Crest doesn't show it."

"Then why is it whole on this if it's meant to be broken on the Crest?" Joel asked curiously as he studied the embossed image on the breastplate closely. "And what are these runes running down the length of it?"

"Don't know," Sean shrugged his shoulders, "Don't know about either question, Elf."

Five minutes later Xain returned. "I cannot find Grandfather Sarek at present. I shall have to talk to him later."

"What's the matter?" Kevin asked him. "What's the problem with Joel's armour?"

Xain thought for a moment, then answered, "I believe that is the 'Fo-wein Sa'ren'; the Armour of Sa'ren. I do not know much about the legends surrounding the blade and the armour as it is an area that I have had very little interest in until now. However, the Armour of Sa'ren is so well known that I recognised it. It is the only armour that bears the whole symbol of the Sa'ren Blade."

Joel's eyes were wide.

"Wanna try it on, Jo'?" Kevin asked with excitement.

---

"Well," Cory murmured, "it fits. Exactly, too. Didn't need adjusting."

Xain was shaking his head, "It may be a replica, but I have never heard of anyone making such. We really need to speak to grandfather."

Joel, however, was looking positively stunning in his new get-up. Kevin was most impressed.

"It don't look ceremonial like the other three, Xain. That looks like real armour," Jake said.

Xain nodded, "Yes, it is. I just checked it with my tricorder, and the power pack in the belt is at full charge. It is real Vulcan Armour, the style of T'naehm Fo-wein, Battle Armour from the War of the Raptor."

"Why'd they have armour like this at a time when they had phasers and such?" Sean asked curiously as he watched Joel twirl about, showing off for Kevin. Kevin was not complaining in the slightest.

"Joel, do you trust me?" Xain asked seriously.

Joel nodded as he stopped spinning around, "Uh huh. Sure."

"Do not be alarmed, Patriarch, Sean. This will not harm Joel," Xain said as he drew his phaser, set it to maximum and fired it at Joel's chest.

Cory's heart nearly stopped for a second, but when his eyes finally readjusted after the glare of the phaser beam, he was looking at a curious Joel who was checking out the breastplate for damage. "Hope you didn't burn it, Xain. This is too nice to be damaged," Joel muttered.

Sean nearly fainted when he checked the setting of the phaser he had ripped from Xain's hand. "This would have burned a hole through titanium, Xain!" he nearly yelled.

Xain nodded calmly. "'T'naehm Fo-wein' consists of Vulcan Bio-engineering, shielding and certain metals unique to Vulcan. Unique but rare. We do not use it to make armour any more, that is how rare it has become. It would need a starship's phaser banks to burn through that breastplate, and the shield itself envelops the body of the user once the armour is fully on. Once Joel is dressed completely, I could have aimed for his face, and that hand phaser would have done no more than temporarily blind him. I can assure you on this, Cory, Sean. Vulcan Armour in general was an area I was required to study when I was at home."

"That would make him immune to all harm?" Cory asked, feeling the tension leave him. Sean started breathing deeply to steady his racing heart.

"No," Xain shook his head. "Kinetic force would knock him back, and could even hurt him. Physical objects, like a sword or bladed weapon, can penetrate the armour and shield. That metal has the ability to absorb a large amount of energy, yet it is only as physically strong as steel. The shield adds something to that. Bullets will not hurt Joel, but an explosion next to him? He would be flung to one side and injured through kinetic trauma. Some shrapnel, if big enough, may therefore penetrate. It affords him excellent protection, but not complete. It is the reason sword fighting was still common on Vulcan at the War of the Raptor."

Joel finished checking his armour and so he went back to happily twirling about for Kevin.

"I am sorry if I caused you distress," Xain added then as he watched his brother play with Joel. "Had I explained to Joel that I would be firing at him on full power, then he would have become nervous and should he have flinched, I might have hit an area without the full protection of the suit. He is still not completely dressed. By not saying anything, I knew that I could draw and fire without him reacting; especially as he said he trusted me."

Sean nodded briefly, not trusting his voice yet, but Cory pulled Xain in for a hug, "We trust you too, bro. It's just that he's our little Joel. That scared us, but now... thanks. We now have a well protected little brother, and your 'show' just confirmed it for us better than you simply telling us would have. Thank you."

Xain smiled.

---

"You look... real sexy, Kev," Joel whispered as he looked the now fully armoured Kevin up and down.

Kevin giggled and gave his friend a twirl, just to repay him for the same show earlier.

Jake and Xain were also dressed in their ceremonial armour, and Cory and Sean had sat down together to watch.

"Joel, Kevin. Come here please," Xain asked politely. "I need to explain the Benediction to you both, and how we will march to the service."

The two boys ran over and sat on the larger boy's laps. It did not take long for the brief explanation of the march to be told, then Xain spoke rapidly to Joel in Vulcan about the benediction.

"Got it, Xain," Joel smiled. "Just... what am I and Kev carrying if you're carrying the Banner-flags?"

Xain pointed to a box in the corner, "Both of you shall be carrying a Ceremonial Sword. They are..." Xain didn't manage to finish as Joel leapt from his lap and ran to Cory, shaking uncontrollably and crying loudly in fear. He jammed himself into Cory's side, and Sean instinctively hugged the frightened boy from behind.

"Calm yourself and tell me what's wrong, Lil'elf," Cory whispered in Joel's little pointed ear.

Joel looked up, his eyes glazed in fear. "Sharp... blade... I can't carry it, Cory... it's sharp," he said in a terrified whisper, and he shook all the more as he said the word 'sharp'. Cory felt slight pain in his own arms, legs, chest and back as his empathy picked up on Joel's remembered pain.

"The sword will not be used to hurt anyone little brother; especially not you," Cory reassured his newest brother. "To beat your old memory you're gonna need to make a new memory; one about how you are being given the rare honour of carrying a sword to pay tribute to the kids and adults who died to protect their friends and families. Very few people ever get offered this chance; it takes someone really special to do it. Xain is never wrong when he thinks logically; if he thinks you are the right person and that it is the right time then I bet that he's right."

Sean whispered, "Cory's right, Elf. You won't get hurt."

"But I can see him again... he'll hurt me..." Joel whispered, his eyes - elsewhere.

Xain moved over and laid a finger to the side of Joel's head. "Patriarch," he said softly when Joel showed no sign of noticing him, "may I be permitted to Meld with Joel again? He has not gotten lost in the wound in his mind this time, but is needing help to fight his... 'demons'."

Cory nodded, "Please - but is there anything we can do to help?"

"Yes," Xain nodded as he knelt down and placed his fingers at the correct points on Joel's face, "continue to say what you have been saying, and let him feel your love. It will help as I fight with him."

Cory and Sean both started whispering encouragement over and over as Xain started the ritual formula that preceded a Melding...

"My mind to your mind..."

---

Five minutes later:

Joel hugged Xain fiercely. "Thank you," he murmured, "thank you."

"It was logical, Joel," Xain half smiled as he gently held the little waif in his arms, "you are my Clan brother, you were in distress; it was logical for me to help you."

"And you love him too," Sean giggled, relieved.

Xain looked surprised that they had seen through his 'logic' then smiled wider, "Yes; and because I love you, too."

Joel hugged even tighter, then slipped down and ran over to Kevin. As soon as he latched onto Kevin, the brown haired boy said, "Love you, Jo'."

Joel sighed happily and hugged even tighter. He then pulled back and landed a kiss on Kevin's lips before turning slightly and asking, "Can we see these swords now, Xain?"

Xain nodded and opened the container. He withdrew the two blades and handed one to Kevin, then the other to Joel.

Joel felt strange taking the sword into his hands, but he tried to fight down the feeling quickly. Only, it did not vanish. It grew stronger the longer he held and looked at the rune-engraved blade before him. "What do these runes mean, Xain?"

Xain shook his head, "They are copied from the original, from Sa'ren. I believe Jason Evans would know what the writing means, Joel. From my talks with my cousin Telez, I have been made aware of Jason's fascination with Vulcan Legends and Lore; the Sa'ren Legend especially."

"Oh," Joel said, still feeling more than slightly weird. "Call him please?" he half begged, his eyes unable to leave the blade of the weapon before him.

Xain raised an eyebrow and shot a look at Cory. "I've already Sent for him," Sean said softly. "He's coming now."

A whispered "Thank you" was all Joel could manage.

It was less than three minutes later when the door opened and Jason came in. "What's up?" he asked, then saw the look on Joel's face. "Joel? Cariad, what's wrong?"

"The runes... the writing... I feel weird. What do they mean?" Joel asked, his voice trembling.

"'For Destiny, Keep Me; By Strength, Carry Me; In Justice, Draw Me; To Redeem, Use Me'," Jason quoted from memory. "Such is written on Sa'ren, and such can still be read; even though the Sword lies shattered within the Place of Kolinahr on Mount Seleya." Jason watched Joel carefully for a moment before really seeing the Armour the boy had on. "Oh holy FUCK! Where did you...?" he gasped, pointing at the Armour.

"It seems as though I was right," Xain said blandly. "I have no doubt such an emotive reaction means this is the 'Fo-wein Sa'ren'."

Jason looked back and forth between them all, then finally turned his gaze back on the Armoured Vulcan. "Where did you get thatfrom?? The last I knew, it was on Mount Seleya!!"

"Jay left it here with the other three suits," Sean explained.

Jason moved over to Joel as Sean said this and started slowly checking the Armour. "Is the rest here too??" he spluttered, looking for the hand coverings, cloak and helm.

Xain nodded as he moved to the required items, "Here, Jason."

"Did anyone adjust this when you helped Joel into it?" Jason asked excitedly.

"Nope," Cory shook his head. "It fit first time."

"NO WAY!!" Jason crowed with glee as he started dancing about, Joel clasped to his chest. The little Vulcan was giggling at the exuberant joy pouring out of the Welsh boy as he was spun about off the ground.

"You think you can fill us in on what you're talking about?" Sean asked with a giggle. "You're gonna fry Cory's brain cell!"

"Watch it, teddy bear!" Cory warned with a smile as he pulled Sean in close.

"Yeah, what's got you so excited, Jace?" Kevin also giggled, "you'd best be quick... Cor's ears are smoking!"

Laughing, Jason plopped Joel back to his feet, and quickly handed him the armoured gloves, "Put them on, elfling; I'll fit your cloak on right!" He turned and had the cloak handed to him by a curious Xain. He fitted it to the neck and shoulders of the Armour easily, then unfastened the section at the back of the belt area and fitted the middle of the cloak in place.

Joel now looked even more desirable to Kevin's eyes. The cloak reached to the Vulcan's mid-calf, and the silver embroidered black cloak shimmered. Joel had quickly put on the gloves and wrist guards, and again they fitted perfectly without any of the adjustments having to be made.

"Now, the helm," Jason bubbled as he handed it to Joel and helped him connect it all to the high neck of the Armour.

Sean sighed, and smiled, "Any time you want, Jace!"

Once Jason had finished he stood back and waited expectantly, yet nothing seemed to happen. "Mmm, okay; what's missing?"

"Jace!" Cory said in exasperation.

"It should... oh! Look at the helm! What's missing, guys?" Jason pointed.

They all moved closer to the small Vulcan who looked up at them curiously. Xain, however, was scanning Joel, "The shielding is at full power and now covering his entire body; as is expected with any true T'naehm Fo-wein. The resonance is correct. Nothing seems to be amiss, Jason."

Cory noticed first, "There's an indentation around the crown of the helm. Something else should go there. But what?"

"That's what I'm wondering," Jason added. "There's nothing in the legends about... oh, my GOD!"

"What?!" Cory and Sean nearly yelled. "For the love of... Jace, just fucking tell us, will you?" Cory added, nearly getting angry.

"'The One to Reforge the Blade shall come. Unknowing shall he speak - Words that he shall not have heard. Untaught shall he know - Using his power to heal. Unguided shall he find his Strength... and forge the Destiny of Sa'ren. He shall Shine as Behr'ak; he shall Shimmer as the Sister; Alam'ak shall Rise over his coming, and the Brother shall crown his brow. He shall change what Was to Be anew, and It shall be Reborn - the Blade and Scion of Surak, the Ruler of Red Sands' and 'He shall fit Fo-wein Sa'ren instantly and be Shielded from Harm'," Jason quoted before calling out, "Kyle-Angel? Can you bring Joel's crown from the Compound?"

"Behr'ak? Alam'ak? Sister? Brother? What?" Sean asked in total bafflement.

"And you call me slow?" Cory retorted, poking Sean in the ribs. "Behr'ak is Vulcan's primary Sun, and Alam'ak is their secondary one, their brightest star. The 'Sister' is the sister world to Vulcan, their only 'moon'. But I agree with Sean, Jace," he added as he turned to his friend, "what is the 'Brother'?"

Jason giggled, "How do most Starfleet officers and crew feel about the union between Earth and Vulcan??"

"Brothers..." Kevin whispered excitedly. "And Joel was crowned by Grandma Lizzy! She's human and therefore...."

"'...the Brother shall crown his brow'," Sean whispered.

Kyle appeared then with Joel's circlet in one hand and a Burger King cardboard crown in the other. The latter he plopped on Jason's head with a quick jump, while the former he handed to Joel.

"Oh, to be crowned by thee, O Masterful Mikyvis and King of thy people, is an honour I am not worthy of," Jason said with a flourish as he bowed and then prostrated himself to Kyle.

"Kiss my feet, Knave!" Kyle giggled.

Jason reached out and grabbed the boy, took off his shoes and socks and started blowing raspberries into the soles of Kyle's feet. Kyle started rolling about on the floor with laughter, trying to get away from Jason's attack; obviously he was not serious about doing so.

"I said KISS, Goofball!" Kyle managed to squeal.

Jason started kissing instead, but his hands had found Kyle's ticklish belly, sides and ribs and began their assault... yet he DID obey the Mikyvis King and continued to kiss the soles of Kyle's feet... tickling them as much as he could in the process as well...

"Okay, I give up!" Kyle gasped after five minutes of the assault. "Be glad I didn't pee!"

Jason grinned at Kyle's flushed face, straightened his 'crown' on his head then pulled Kyle over and sat the red faced and glowing child on his lap. "Good, much prefer Kyle-cuddles anyhow," he murmured happily into Kyle's hair.

Kyle also grinned and pulled Jason's arms around himself tighter as he tried ignoring the laughter from his big brothers, Joel included.

"You're crazy," Joel giggled as he put the circlet up around the helm where he felt the indentation.

Before anyone could say or do anything else, a loud shimmering came from the circlet as the 'gold' of it reacted with the Vulcan metal of the helm. The metal pieces of the Armour glowed silver, while the Emblazoned Sa'ren emblem inlaid on the sectioned breastplate blazed out in a mix of yellow and red light... the light of Earth's star, Sol, and that of Behr'ak.

//He has come. It is coming. The Blade shall be Reborn, and the Sword shall Reform// came the Voice of the Guardian as the boys stared at Joel in shock and awe...

...Joel was still shining like the dawn, and felt suddenly free of all emotion... other than that Fire that was now increasing to an unbelievable size within his chest.

---

After the shocked silence and the light show had played out, Kevin moved into Joel's arms. "Wow, Jo'. That was so cool!"

"Uh huh," Joel managed to say, his mind lost in confusing thoughts and feelings. He looked his best friend in the eyes and increased the hug.

"Love you too," Kevin replied with a sunny smile.

Joel grinned and pulled away to remove his helm and gloves. The shimmering from the Armour reduced to a barely perceivable level as he did so.

Jake was watching all this with just as much awe as the others, yet his eyes were concerned. "Joel, what is Kevin to you?" he asked lightly.

Joel looked over his shoulder and grinned. "We're best friends... with benefits!" he giggled, winking at Kevin who grinned back with a small blush. Joel then turned back and continued to remove those pieces of Armour Jason was now helping with.

Jake's face hardened slightly, and so he moved and quickly whispered to Kevin. They walked from the room, Kevin's face curious and concerned.

Joel turned just as the door closed. "What's happening?" he asked, looking around at the others.

"My T'hy'la is concerned for our little brother's well-being, and he is now discussing such with Kevin," Xain explained seriously.

"Oh? What's wrong?" Joel asked.

"You. Kevin does not easily say he loves others, not in the way he says it to you. Yet you do not reciprocate those feelings, and go so far as to easily dismiss it as being a relationship 'with benefits'. Jake is not pleased right now," Xain answered, his own face unreadable.

Joel's eyes filled with horror and fear. "But..."

"Xain," Cory interrupted quickly, "Joel cannot say the word, yet. He doesn't know what love really is, and if he says it and he's wrong, then he's 'lying' and would expect severe punishment."

Xain thought on that for a moment, and seemed to be listening to something else as well. "I see," he said finally. "Joel, Kevin has just relayed the same to Jake. I am sorry I said that - I did not know."

"S'okay," Joel murmured, tears now rolling down his face. Jason pulled him over and cuddled him from behind. "I wish I could say it, really I do," Joel continued pleadingly.

Jake and Kevin walked back in at that moment, and Kevin immediately saw his best friend's tears. He slapped Jake's arm and shot a look at Xain. "Next time, ask me without hurting my Jo', okay?" he said with a small measure of anger before running over and hugging the quietly sobbing Vulcan.

Jake also moved over and knelt down to look up into Joel's face. Kevin released his friend, and Joel moved forwards slightly.

"Sorry, Joel. I have always protected Kev from having to do sex stuff like I had to. I was afraid that that was all you wanted him for - for 'benefits' only. Sorry," Jake apologised as he offered his arms to the boy.

Joel sank into the offered hug, "Okay. Really, Jake: I won't hurt him... he's my bestest friend. I... we don't do s...sex stuff much... just masturbation... I'm as nervous as he is, but for..."

"Shh," Jake stopped Joel before the small boy's trembling grew worse, "Kev explained. It's okay, I understand. You just show him you love him as you've been doing."

"'Kay," came the reply as Joel kissed Jake's cheek and returned to Kevin's arms.

---

Joel was now outside alone; thinking. At least, he thought he was alone.

After a long talk with Jason and Adam Casey, the two cheetahs felt at peace with not being on guard so that they could properly grieve for their fallen brothers, and the same went for the entire Unit Special Forces members. All had been told lovingly by Jason, Nathan and Victoria that the Dragon and Sehlat Divisions, along with Section 31, were on Watch Care for everyone.

"Just take care of your loved ones, Adam," Jason had said not that long ago. "Comfort the living and remember and honour the Fallen Heroes and family. We're your 'big' brother as far as the two Clans go, and we're doing this for you."

It had taken a while for Adam to come around, but when he did Jason found himself being hugged firmly. "Thank you. Just... thank you."

Jason smiled sadly, "To ease distress is logical, Commander. You need to grieve. You don't need the pressure of Security on top of that."

"What about your guys, Jace?" Cory had asked.

Jason sighed, "We love you too, but not as you love those who died. We are here to protect you. The Unit was not under our protection until Saturday when they joined Clan Short, but even so we had them under watch. Yet, we still don't hurt like they do, nor like you and the Clan do. We were apart from you. In the few days I've been around you in the open, I've been loved and accepted as if I'd always been here. I thank you for that, but in this instance, I have less to give than all of you do in honour of those that gave their all. It is better for me and mine to honour them by letting ALL of YOU honour them fully without distraction." He turned to Adam and stretched up and kissed the fourteen year old's cheek. "All the Unit should be here without needing to act as Security. I know you guys won't let your guard all the way down; I wouldn't in your position either, but just know that your Shadows are watching you. You won't see us. We'll never stop watching you, though."

Joel, therefore, did not see the guard that had been placed on him when he had asked if there was some place nearby where he could sit and think.

His guard, Riti, was nearby, but since he had his cloaking field on, and as he was seated in a tree above Joel, the Vulcan boy did not notice him.

His royal circlet had removed itself easily from the helm of his armour, and he had that across his brow as he sat back against a tree, while what he still wore of that Armour was glimmering slightly in the late morning sunlight.

Joel's face creased with fear and confusion. What was he to make of all this? He was meant to bring back some ancient sword? Why?

He sighed and trembled slightly, and his stomach growled at him. Absently, he picked a few blades of grass and started eating them. On one level of his mind he found himself amazed at the nice flavour of this grass, yet he was entirely focused on what had been told to him earlier.

Riti, however, grew concerned and established his link to Jason's mind. 'Get Cory and get him and yourself out here NOW, Jace! Joel's eating fuckin' GRASS!'

Joel started to get himself more and more worked up over the next minute or so, and he had been reduced to a trembling, crying waif by the time Cory and Jason got to him.

"What's wrong, Lil'elf?" Cory asked as he ran over and scooped Joel into his arms.

Turning his gaze on Cory, Joel started blubbing harder. Jason reached over and plucked a few stray blades of grass from Joel's lip. "Shhh, cariad. What's troubling you?" he added as he rubbed Joel's back comfortingly.

Joel sobbed, "Everything... Sa'ren... me finding it... forging it... what am I meant to do? Why me? Who said all that stuff, and why is my armour so funny? I'm... I'm just... I'm only me..." He hid his face in Cory's shoulder and tightened his grip.

"Ah, Joel," Cory whispered quietly. "You are special. My little special elf, and don't you ever think otherwise. I don't know about Sa'ren, and I don't know about what you are meant to do, even if the legends are true. We'll work it out together; as brothers."

"Yeah," Jason added. "We can all talk tonight, if you want, Joel. I'll tell you as much as I know. It's all good, though. Please don't worry, little man; you make me hurt when you worry."

Joel continued crying softly but he did manage a quiet, "It's not fair... why me?"

Sammy suddenly ran around the corner and headed right over to them, panting. He gasped out, "I... I think I can... help him, guys."

Cory started smiling as Joel immediately reached for Sammy, sobbing out, "SamSam!"

"Well," Jason murmured quietly to Cory as Joel was transferred easily into the eleven year old's arms, "I believe we have become superfluous, Cor."

"Yeah," Cory whispered back. "Come on. I'll have Kev run out with cookies for him soon."

As they both left quickly, Jason glanced up into the branches of the tree that the invisible Riti was perched in and nodded.

Sammy settled down against the same tree Joel had been using, with Joel cuddled against him, chest to chest; his small face now tucked into Sammy's neck and his tears slowly making their way down his face to wet Sammy's neck.

"Hush now little one, it's alright," Sammy whispered softly. "It's alright now," he said again as he rubbed up and down on Joel's back. "Shhh."

Joel pulled back enough so that he was gazing into Sammy's golden seeming eyes, his nose touching his brother's. "You... you just made him go 'way, SamSam," Joel breathed quietly in wonder, his gaze not breaking from that of Sammy's and his soft cookie scented breath tickling at Sammy's senses. "He was shouting at me 'gain... 'cos I'm so dumb... I can't understand... I don't know... why me?"

Sammy took a deep breath and opened up what he was feeling to Joel, just as he had done the night before. He let his feelings wrap around the waif in his arms like a blanket and said gently, "First of all, little guy, you're not dumb. Don't ever think that, okay?" Sammy got a shy nod from the Vulcan, and so continued, "Second, 'He' is not here any more and even if he was I wouldn't let 'Him' hurt you ever again. Not only that but I bet Jace, Cory, Sean, Kevin and about a million more that are here wouldn't let 'Him' do anything to you either. That doesn't include Dot or your teddy bear, both of whom I bet would love to eat him on sight; although it might upset their tummies. I am glad I could make him go away though," he added with a puzzled smile as Joel started giggling in his arms.

"You spoke," Joel explained, as images of I-Cheya snacking down on Mr Williams appeared in his mind's eye. His eyes danced happily, yet even with his giggles, he kept his eye contact with his SamSam. Noses still touching, Joel smiled and kissed Sammy quickly. "You just spoke, and he went away."

There was a slight pause, then, "And Mother says 'thank you'."

Sammy couldn't help but giggle at what he could see Joel thinking about down the unique Bond they had. He said, "Well, I'm glad he went and that I could make him go, little guy, but your mother?" He returned the kiss to Joel's little nose. He hid his concern but did start to wonder. 'Mother? If... That would explain so much' he thought, thinking about yesterday.

"Uh huh!" Joel giggled again as his smile lit up his face. His armour emitted a slight ringing note as Joel's joy grew. "You remember las' night, and I said something weird to you that I can't remember, and I said it happens a lot? I've got my Mother's Katra in my mind. She... she's kinda funny, but nice. You wanna talk to her? I can ask her if you wanna," he offered, now completely excited.

"I remember, Joel; and I was worried but it sounds as if it's okay now. Tell her 'you're welcome' and I'd be honoured to speak with her if she likes." Relief was now in Sammy's eyes as he thought, 'That explained everything from last night. I have to tell Jace, he'll be relieved too.'

Joel's eyes started changing shade. They were still blue, and Sammy could see a resemblance to Joel's natural shade, but these eyes seemed to be slightly darker. Joel sat back until he was seated on Sammy's thighs, and then his eyes darted over Sammy completely.

"Fascinating. My son surrounds himself with attractive young men. He has, as humans say, good taste," came that same voice from the night before that Sammy remembered.

Sammy's face started flaming as he blushed and said, "T..th..thanks. He's a real sweetheart." He then added, "You're really his mother?"

Joel's now emotionless face gazed back at him, yet his eyes, his mother's eyes, twinkled. "Yes, I am," his mother replied, then took in Sammy's burning face. "Ah. Do not be embarrassed. At least I have not seen you naked as I have Cory, Sean and Kevin. Although I can guess that you would be a match for them. I was right about you yesterday. A Patriarch's soul is in you, a Father's soul. The bond you share with my son; I thank you for that. He deserves all the love that he has missed, and you give that so freely. For a soul so hurt, you still give. You are truly a wonder, child."

"Well at least the naked part's true," he replied with a smile before telling her, "I'm not anything special, ma'am, I just... just care about people and I don't know any other way except to do it like that. I can feel the hurt in him, the pain and I want to make that go away. More than that, I want to make it stay away. I can also feel the emptiness inside him wanting to be filled and I'm more than happy to try and help fill it for him. I do love him as strange as that sounds just knowing him for so short a time but I do. The...ah...John says it's because of the way he is but it doesn't change anything for me. I'll do everything I can to protect him and show him that love which he needs, I promise." Sammy's eyes were filled with love as he gazed at Joel.

"John Smith. Ish-Hassu. The Doctor. What my son knows, I know, Samuel. I know what the Doctor told you also, but that is by deduction. Love given nearly always has its response in Love received. In that, in the power you have in you, you are special. And you may call me... Sara. That is all I may say at this time regarding who I am. Now, I must allow my son to regain control. This tires me more when not in complete control; he is listening and watching... and giggling, I believe. He thinks you are cute... when you blush..." her voice faded at the end, and Joel's eyes reverted back to normal.

Very normal, as he was sniggering like crazy. He flopped into Sammy's chest and kissed him soundly before settling in for a good snuggle. "She's nice, isn't she?" he whispered happily.

"Yes," Sammy whispered back with a small smile as he kissed the top of Joel's head, "she is."

They sat there for a few moments just enjoying the contact and the warm sun. "You think I'm cute when I blush?" Sammy suddenly asked with a giggle.

Joel sat up slightly to look into Sammy's eyes, his own dancing happily. He nodded, "Yeah."

Sammy grinned at him, but did tilt his head curiously at Joel, "You don't seem as... something has changed."

Joel nodded seriously and a slow blush mounted his cheeks. Sammy felt another movement, and guessed. "Did you and Kevin enjoy?"

Joel nodded shyly, that quirky grin coming back to his face.

Sammy pulled him in and hugged him firmly. After another enjoyable hug in silence, Sammy asked, "What was upsetting you earlier?"

"I..." Joel sat back up to look at Sammy again, then sighed. "This armour I have on; it's meant to be special armour that only the one who can remake some Vulcan sword would fit exactly at first try."

Sammy looked at the silver white armour and then back into Joel's eyes. "And?"

"It fitted," Joel breathed out nervously, "but I don't know what I'm meant to do to make a sword. I don't like the idea that I'm in prophecy."

"How old is this 'prophecy'?" came Sammy's puzzled question.

"Nearly two thousand years old," Joel whispered back.

"Joel," Sammy said slowly, pulling the boy's attention back to himself fully, "only you can say what you will do. Vulcans are strange, but they would never make you do something you really didn't want to do."

"The Guardian said it as well, though," Joel added, panic beginning to rise in him.

Sammy was quick to settle those emotions, using a trick Victoria had taught him. He then said, "I think I've heard this Guardian, Joel; on Monday before you arrived. He sounds nice. I'm sure he wouldn't force you either. But Jason said last night that this Guardian knows the future. It might not be a prophecy from the Guardian's point of view. He could be watching you do it right now." Sammy stopped and kissed Joel's forehead lovingly, "Whatever you do would be natural to you, so just be you, Joel."

Joel regarded Sammy seriously for a long moment before nodding slowly. "Okay, SamSam," he whispered, a ghost of a smile returning to his face.

Kevin appeared then, carrying a paper bag. He ran up to them both and settled down next to Sammy. "Cor said you were hungry, Jo'. I got you some cookies; Tyler says he made them specially for you."

Joel's smile became stronger as he was handed the bag. He opened it and peered inside. "Mmm, these smell yummy," he giggled. He looked up at Sammy's face from his perch on his thighs and asked, "Want some?"

With a quick nod, Sammy answered, "Yes please. They do smell good."

The young Vulcan started to feed both of them then, as well as devouring his own share.

Around a mouthful of cookie, Kevin asked, "Why were you eating grass, Jo'? If you're hungry, you just have to ask us for something and we'll get food for you."

Joel chewed as he thought back to just before Cory and Jason had arrived. "Oh yeah. I was... well, when I was there I used to eat anything to feel full, Kev. I just kinda did it outta habit, I think." He paused and his face grew pensive, "I...I didn't do nuffin' wrong, did I?"

Sammy and Kevin both shook their heads. "No," Sammy answered quickly, "it's just that grass ain't nice to eat Joel, and we don't want you eating anything that isn't the best. Okay?"

A smile, hug and kiss for each of them later, and all three continued to devour the cookies.

---

Kevin had gone to talk with Xain some more about the part they were to play in the upcoming service, and so Joel decided to wander about the Fire Station to see if he could find Sean or Cory for some more cuddles. Before he found them, he instead came upon two blond haired teenagers who were sitting together. One of them was fully engrossed in a large technical manual, and as Joel got closer he could see it was an engineering book written by none other than Commander Scott of the Enterprise.

His curiosity got the better of him. He stopped fairly near to them both and fidgeted slightly in nerves before trembling out, "Uh... hi."

"Oh, hi," the boy who was reading said, while the other just blushed and nervously waved.

Joel noticed the blush, and felt a little less threatened. "Why you blushing?" he asked the boy, cocking his head slightly as he felt a nervous tension build in the air between the three of them.

"Um, you're Joel, aren't you?" the one who had answered him said. "I'm Jude; we got here the same time as you. This's Billy Joe, and he's kind of shy about, you know..." He let his last words trail off as Billy Joe looked panicked.

Joel raised an eyebrow, then nodded. "I... I think I understand," he whispered as he sat down next to Billy. "I... where I was, you died if you were... if you liked boys. And... but don't worry. I was beaten so much to stop me ever doing... sex stuff..." he whispered more, "but Kev and I... we, ah... played with each other and it was cool and everything! If I can do sex stuff and everyone be brilliant about it, then you two can be together... and stuff..." He smiled nervously and glanced about. "Oh, ummm... Kev said I shouldn't talk 'bout it 'cos it's embarrassing or something... sorry..."

"But, uh, it's a sin -- they told me it is!" Billy Joe said uncertainly.

"No," Joel shook his head with a small smile, "it's a sin to hate. It's a sin to hurt. The Bible don't say anything about two men nor two women in a committed relationship being a sin. I'd know. I've memorised the entire Bible."

"See, I keep telling you," Jude said with a warm smile.

Billy Joe frantically grabbed at the first thing that came to mind to change the subject. "So you were telling me about the modulator for the warp core, Jude...?" he asked.

Joel giggled. He gave Billy a brief hug then looked at the page Jude's book was open to. "Oh, the possibility of Slip Stream?" he asked Jude.

"Yeah, they don't have that here yet! They had it in your world?" Jude asked excitedly.

Joel giggled again, "This is my world. The one I was lost in was without space stuff, and Star Trek was an old show. Slip Stream won't work with the current Warp engines, though. You need a completely new type of engine. And without increasing the SIF beyond even TNG time frame tolerance, the starship would rip itself to shreds."

"Oh, like they did in Voyager?" Jude asked, revealing that he was from a 'Star Trek TV show' universe.

"Uh huh," Joel nodded, then glanced at Billy's now very confused and lost looking face. "Slip Stream is a fast way of getting places, Billy. You could get from here to Vulcan in an hour or so rather than 2 to 3 days!"

"Except that they haven't developed it here yet!" Jude added, giggling.

"So how do you guys know about it?" Billy Joe asked.

"Well," the little Vulcan started with a broad smile, "the Universe I was lost in was post-apocalyptic, but before the War there was this show called Star Trek. It was about the United Federation of Planets, Starfleet, and the crew of the Enterprise. The shows covered more than 180 years and started in the late 22nd, early 23rd centuries. It looks like the stuff that people thought they were making up was really happening in other Universes. Jude must come from a Universe where they also had Star Trek; right, Jude?"

"Right!" Jude said with a conspiratorial smile at Joel. He then asked, "How many series did you see, Joel?"

Joel started to list them off, "'Enterprise', 'Original Series', 'Next Generation', 'Deep Space Nine', 'Voyager', 'Animated Series', 'Original Series Redux', 'Federation Wars', 16 films, 8,347 stand alone novels, and so many additional 'tech' books that I never bothered counting them."

"Omigosh!" Jude said, excitedly. "We only had through Enterprise, or through Voyager if you're looking at it chronologically, and ten movies. I really enjoyed Enterprise the best, after the original series -- seeing Earth's first steps into space, with Jonathan Archer and T'Pol and all, was great!"

Two boys from the Unit walked by in full uniform, on their way to get their ceremonial rifles. Billy Joe asked, "Who are they?"

Kevin walked up just in time to hear the question. He answered as he sat down and pulled Joel into his arms, "They're from The Unit. They are the ones who came and saved Sammy and Cory and the guys on Saturday, Billy. They are all military-trained soldiers, and some have been genetically enhanced." Once finished, he kissed the back of Joel's head, and relaxed back with Joel's back firmly against his chest.

"Genetically enhanced? You mean, like what Dr. Sara Kingsley was doing in the "Unnatural Selection" episode?" Jude asked excitedly. "That's for real?"

"I think so," Joel nodded, "I don't know much about these 'Unit' kids yet, so I can't be sure who did it."

"Genetic enhancement has been going on for thousands and thousands of years, Jude," Kevin explained with a small smile. "The human race is a lot older than most alive now think. Over 65 thousand years older."

"What?!" Jude asked. "Who? How? When? Was it aliens?"

Kevin started to giggle, "Nope. No aliens. We're just a far older race than most realise... we've killed ourselves off time and time again, though."

"Not as old as the sons of T'Khasi," came that sonorous voice from Joel that meant his mother was speaking again. Kevin recognised it, but Jude and Billy just lifted an eyebrow at the change in tone in Joel's voice. "Our blood is the oldest in the Federation."

"Um, what do you mean by that, Joel?" Jude asked.

Joel's face turned to regard Jude emotionlessly, and the voice came again, "Vulcan blood reaches back over five hundred thousand years. Such is the age of the oldest ruins on our World." Joel then shook his head slightly and blinked at the two boys in front of him. He turned his head to look into Kevin's eyes, "My Mother."

"Yeah, I know. She didn't say anything bad, Jo'. Don't worry," Kevin kissed his friend's nose softly.

"'Kay," Joel whispered as he snuggled back and pulled Kevin's arms in tighter about himself.

"Um ... what the heck?" Jude exclaimed. "Joel's eyes just suddenly changed shade, and he started talking in a strange voice... what's going on?"

"My mother's Katra," Joel explained with a small smile. "She's in my mind."

"And you've no idea how nervous that makes me feel after... uh, never mind," Kevin trailed off with a blush.

"You mean, she's watching you, everything you say and do?!" Billy Joe said. "That's really gotta suck!"

Joel's face fell slightly. "No, she said she withdrew and didn't see nor feel anything when Kev and I masturbated each other, but..." Kevin's face went bright red but before he could say anything Joel's soft sobs pulled his attention away from being embarrassed. "... But, I wish she had been there... before... sh...she could have h...helped when I w...was getting hurt..." Joel finished, tears running down his face. "I'd tr..trade my privacy to kn...know she's there forever... watching o...out for me..."

Without thinking, Jude reached over and pulled the smaller boy from Kevin's cuddle and into his arms, holding him as he cried. Kevin moved over with his best friend and Billy took him into his own lap so that the two small boys could still be together. "Why wasn't she there before, Kevin?" Jude asked softly as Joel wept.

"You saw the pictures of Joel when he arrived," Kevin sighed. "That chip in his neck kept Joel's mind acting and seeming human; sort of. It meant that his Mom's Katra was completely blocked off. She had no idea her baby would live and grow up a tortured, abused slave."

Jude was shocked at what Kevin had said. "Where'd they do that to you, dude?" he asked.

Joel trembled, so Kevin answered, "He was an orphan in the place he was lost. All orphans there were slaves. They were worth nothing, and so..." He shook his head, unable so say any more. Jude got the picture as did Billy Joe.

They sat quiet for a few minutes, and Billy Joe's mind started to go over what Joel had let slip about having engaged in mutual masturbation with Kevin. "Aren't you two kinda young for messing around with sex?" he asked eventually as he increased his hug on the brown haired boy on his lap.

"I'm eleven, twelve in December," Kevin whispered as he kissed Joel's cheek. "And he's thirteen tomorrow."

"Wow, you're both... sorry, I shouldn't," Billy Joe started to say, but trailed off with a blush.

"It's okay," Kevin smiled sadly. "We were both starved. We're getting better now."

Jude tried to lift the mood then, "I turn fourteen tomorrow: we've got the same birthday, Joel!"

Joel trembled. "I don't like birthdays," he whispered as he wiped the tears from his face. He shuffled over until Kevin had him in his arms again.

Jude was confused. "Why?" he asked. "Didn't you have parties with your friends to celebrate people's birthdays?"

"I was a slave," Joel explained sickly, "I had no friends. I never had friends. Kevin is my first, my Best Friend, and my brothers are my first brothers. I... I was always beaten bad on my birthday; just 'cos he could 'celebrate'."

Both Billy Joe and Jude were stunned at this. "But why?" Jude asked.

Kevin hugged Joel tighter. "Why'd my Mom hate me and never feed me? Why'd Adam Short's parents beat him? Why'd Jamie and Jacob's dad assault them? Why..." he stopped before he could get angry.

Kyle appeared and came up to Jude. He waved his hand and both Kevin and Joel went stock still while he explained, "You had great parents, Jude; they loved you a lot, but a lot of us guys have never had good parents until we were saved by the Clan or by our brothers before the Clan started. You heard what Sean told you on Monday, Jude. I know it's hard for you to understand, but for Joel it was very real. He was abused, tortured, beaten and nearly raped before Mikey saved him. He lived through the type of things you read about in those CSU stories. It wasn't a story for him. Not to me either. I know your grandfather beat you some, but you had so much more love in your life than we had. It allowed you the strength to run away. I hope you never really understand what we went through, bro. Don't ask him any more right now, not about what he went through. Every time he thinks about his past, he feels the pain as if it was happening right now. Get his mind off it, and talk about something to make him smile. Levi is in tears right now; it's his turn to help Joel's emotions stay in check, and this is making it harder. Tell him about your good birthdays that you've had, and tell him about how great your mom and dad were. That will help with tomorrow's surprise."

Kyle smiled at both Billy Joe and Jude, kissed them, and vanished. Joel and Kevin unfroze as if nothing had happened.

Jude glanced at Billy Joe, and decided to take Kyle's advice. "Mom and Dad were awesome," he told Joel. "Sure they scolded me to make me behave, but they were always there, always loving me. And they tried to make every one of my birthdays special. When I was six, there was a circus in Savannah, and they drove me up to it. When I turned twelve, we went to the beach for the day. Last year, Dad took me down to J'ville to watch the Jaguars play. Every birthday - every day - they tried to make me realize how special I was to them." He smiled, remembering.

Joel's face softened throughout all that Jude was relaying, and by the end he had a gentle smile on his face. "They sound real nice, Jude," he whispered happily, and he could feel Kevin nodding his head behind him.

It was Jude's turn to look a little sad, then. "They were the best. I miss them a lot."

Joel worked out what wasn't said. "Jude?"

"Yeah?"

"If you help me have a... a nice birthday tomorrow, I'll be your family for your birthday tomorrow as well. And... and... if you want a Mama to give you 'Mammy-hugs', then... I... I don't think Cor and Sean'll mind if... if our Mama Teri would become your Mama Teri too..."

Jude's eyes went misty. "You'd share Teri with me?" he asked. "That's probably the kindest thing anybody's ever said to me. I used to read about her and how she loved Cory and Sean so much..."

Joel suddenly grinned, jumped up from Kevin's lap and yelled "Stay there!" as he zoomed off, calling out "MAMA!!!! MAMA!!!"

Kevin started to giggle as he looked at the priceless expression on Jude's face.

"Earth to Jude" Billy Joe giggled.

Jude blinked, and continued listening to the faint calls of 'MAMA' ringing out throughout the building.

It was less than three minutes later when Teri arrived, being led by an over-excited Joel, and being followed by all her other sons who had come running at their Lil'elf's cries and calls of 'MAMA'.

"Okay, Joel. What are you up to?" Teri laughed as she watched her tiny Vulcan son bounce around arranging all his brothers so that they could see. Jude was looking half terrified by now.

Joel started explaining, "Jude's got no Mama any mores, Mama. He had a brilliant Mam and Dad in his old Universe and they were cool and hugged him and did wonderful things for him and everything, but he don't have anyone any mores and he's upset 'cos it's his birthday tomorrow and his Daddy and Mammy won't be here so I offered..." *quick breath* "... offered to share my new Mama with him... will you? Will you be Jude's new Mama? Not replace his brilliant Mammy but to be a new Mammy for him? Please?"

Cory looked over at Kyle. "You speak 'excited kid'; would you mind translating, bro?"

Kyle giggled. "Joel wants Mom to be a Mom for Jude, like Allen is a Pop for Xain. A M'aih, right Joel?"

Joel nodded from the hug Teri had pulled him into.

"Is that what you want, Jude?" Teri asked calmly.

"Um, yes, ma'am," Jude said abashedly. "I used to read about you, and how wonderful you were with Sean and Cory and J.J. and Kyle and Aaron and all. I'd love to have you for a Mom - is M'aih Vulcan for mother?"

"It is Vulcan for 'Caring and Nurturing Mother', like a foster mother. It is not full adoption. That would be Ko'mekh," Teri explained.

"Well, um..." Jude paused, unsure how to say what he was feeling. "If I had my druthers, I'd love to be adopted -- really adopted -- like Tyler and Adam were. But..." he paused and looked embarrassed "...it'd be like disowning my Dad if I changed my name to Short, because we were Lees, and we were proud of being from the First Family of the South... even though we were only distant kin to Robert E. Please don't think I'm bad for that, ma'am, but I'm proud of being my poppa's son, and it's about all I have left of him, is his name." He looked ready to burst into tears.

Joel ran over and climbed into Jude's lap, and started hugging him. Jude did start crying then.

Teri smiled softly. "Tommy would disown me if I was to force you to do something like that. Aaron is my son, yet his name is still 'Carter' for professional reasons."

"Yer darn tootin' I'd be madder than a rabid 'coon!" Tommy piped up. "Ain't no-one gonna take your kinship to ole' Robert E. from ya!"

"There... you wanna be our brother? Our for real brother?" Joel asked from Jude's lap. "You can still be 'Lee', but you'd be our brother forever!"

"Would you?" Jude looked at Teri in hope through his tearful eyes.

"Whose turn is it to do the honours?" Teri asked with a grin.

Kevin giggled, "Under the authority of Article 200 of the Safe Haven Act, Jude McArthur Lee is hereby adopted by Teri Diana Short. He shall retain his name in honour of his father and mother, and as an eternal remembrance of their love for him."

"As your Patriarch, Kev, I ratify your decision," Cory giggled, and drew Jude into a warm, close hug: one that rapidly turned into a group hug.

As the older boys released Jude from the hug, Timmy and the assembled Tribe executed a group pounce on him, leaving him breathless and giggling.

Joel started laughing from the hug Kevin had pulled him back into. He started laughing harder when Timmy scooted out from the mass pile on the floor and ran off quickly.

Timmy walked slowly back and up to Jude, holding a little grey kitten with black 'socks' on all four paws. "Here ya go, Uncle Jude; her mommy says that you need a kitty to stay with you. Her name's Socks!"

"I guess I'd better not run for President, then," Jude laughed as he took the kitten from Timmy. At the other's strange expression, Jude giggled, "I'll explain later."

Teri rolled her eyes, "You are going to fit in well, Jude. Come here; my turn for some hugs."

Jude's eyes misted up slightly as he, and his new kitten, were pulled into her arms.

"Thanks... Mom," he whispered, a catch in his voice.

---

Cory started back towards where Adam Casey was when a light body thumped into his back, and two small arms snaked around his neck. A quick giggle and a large kiss to his left cheek gave away that his Lil'elf had graced him with a pounce.

"Did I do good, Blondie?" he whispered excitedly into Cory's ear. "With Jude? He was all upset that he had no family and..."

"You did perfect, Lil'elf; I couldn't have done any better myself," Cory replied as he gave Joel's arms a squeeze.

Joel sighed happily. "Thanks," he whispered again, "I was a lil' scared I messed up when he got all upset."

Cory giggled softly as he continued walking, Joel riding piggy-back.

Another soft sigh came from the contented Vulcan, and then he mumbled something that made Cory's heart leap for joy:

"I love you, Cor."

Cory somehow managed to spin Joel around so that they were touching noses as he replied, "I love you too, little brother; always and forever."

Joel smiled back, then his eyes popped open wide. "I said it! I really said it??"

Cory's smile reached across his face, "Yeah, you did, Lil'elf!"

"I... I really do! I love you Cory!" he yelled in complete and utter joy.

Tommy was not that far away when this new yell came and he burst into tears. He spun quickly and ran back to where Kevin was sitting. He grabbed the startled boy and threw him up and onto his shoulders before running back towards where a laughing Joel was being spun around by an equally laughing Cory.

"What...?" Kevin spluttered as he found himself being dangerously sped over to the two happy boys.

Cory saw them coming, and so did Joel. Tommy managed to get Kevin to his feet in time for the small boy to receive the pounce that Joel had launched at him.

"Kev! I said it! I love Cory! And I really, REALLY LOVE YOU!" came the happy shout from the Vulcan as he pressed his face into Kevin's neck. "I love you!" he whispered then, tears now running down his cute face.

Kevin started crying as well as he held onto Joel as tight as he possibly could.

"Shal ashau du, Jo'," he managed to whisper through his tears, "I love you, too."

They said no more after that for Joel's lips sought, and found, Kevin's.

"Cory," Sarek said as he came close to the young Patriarch, "I need to have a word with you before you go for your food."

"Sure, Grandfather," Cory smiled as he turned from watching Joel and Kevin kiss.

Sarek laid a hand on Cory's shoulder and led him to one side, "I have received a communication from Vulcan. The High Council has made their decision regarding Saturday, and they have backed up my own opinion regarding it."

"Oh?" Cory said with interest. "Can you tell me?"

Sarek nodded, and proceded to explain...

---

"Mom?" Cory called as he finished a comm call.

Teri looked over at him as she helped Joel pick out his lunch.

"Just got a call from Seth in CIC. Enterprise will be here late tonight, so Joel's booked to go up at ten tomorrow," the blond teen said.

Teri smiled, "That's fine, Cory. Let them know we'll have him ready."

Cory giggled, "And that she wants to see her hottie again," he half-whispered to Sean in passing as he turned his back.

"What was that, young man?" Teri asked, her voice dripping with a forced sweetness.

"Nuffin'!" he retorted cheekily.

Teri stared at him, making him squirm.

Eventually, Cory cracked up laughing, "Sorry Mom, but you're always checking out Uncle Spock's butt when he's around!"

Joel's face, lit up already with his smile at the knowledge of his impending trip to the Enterprise, lit up more. "You think Captain Spock is cute?! You do! I can feel you do!" he half yelled - Teri's hand was still resting on his shoulders.

Teri glared at Cory briefly, then smiled wryly. "I don't suppose I can say anything after the teasing I give you guys, can I?" she muttered lovingly. She ruffled Joel's hair and smiled down at him, "Yes, Captain Spock is easy on the eyes, Joel."

Kevin was giggling with the rest as Teri left them while rolling her eyes, yet his giggles soon died away. Joel turned to him quickly when he picked up the sudden shift in emotions, and this time it was not the nervousness over sex - it was guilt.

"What's wrong?" he asked his friend.

Kevin glanced at him, smiled, then sniffed. The feelings Joel could sense were a complete mix of love and shame, all at once. "I..."

Kevin paused for a second, then said, "I said this morning that I wanted to wait... there's a reason, Jo'. But I don't wanna talk about that yet. Not yet. I'm still thinking about stuff - just like you are."

Joel nodded uncertainly, "Okay, but I'm here when you're ready."

Kevin then took a slow drink of his shake; his face also uncertain and his eyes filled with doubt... and guilt.

---

To Be Continued...

---

Darryl's comments:

It is so wonderful that Joel has finally been able to say that he loves people. I wonder what Kev is feeling guilty about. I am certain that he truly loves Joel. Let's hope that there is nothing badly wrong and that they can be there for one another.

This is another wonderful chapter in this ever expanding saga. I am very glad that some healing is happening with the people from the UNIT. They really need closure.

Thank goodness, SamSam is there. He has that wonderful gift, and now he is willing and able to use it to help everyone, without the fear of being hurt or killed. I am all excited about all the things that are going to happen soon, I hope. I am going to close these notes, or I will be rambling for a week, and we can't have that happening, now can we?

Darryl AKA The Radio Rancher