Love Of Family (2024 Revision)

Ev'lynn and Lyle were cuddled together on the soft tan leather love seat in the family room and flipping through the family photo album when their boys, Linda and Tom, arrived. The older couple smiled as they got to their feet, then after they hugged and kissed the younger people, Lyle fixed them something to drink, and Ev'lynn called the boys inside.

"Oh, wow! Didn't Lev look adorable in his little cowboy outfit," Linda said as she looked at the open photo album.

Troy chuckled and shook his head, saying, "That's not Lev, Sis. That's this big ol' red-headed boy I fell in love with."

Everyone giggled when the younger of the only two women kept looking between adult Jaycen and the young boy in the picture, trying to reconcile the two images.

"Here's one of Lev," Jaycen said as he pulled out a second album, flipped to the page with his brother's picture, and held the book so the pictures were side by side.

"I knew you and Lev strongly resembled each other, but damn, you two look like twins, sheesh. I guess it's a good thing your parents had the two of you so far apart."

When the three youngest family members burst into the room, they hugged and kissed everyone and began catching each other up on the day's events.

"Where's Reenie, Rus, and everyone else," Levie asked as he looked around for the missing people.

"They all decided to spend time with their families," Jaycen said.

"What, we're not enough company for ya, Brokid," Troy asked as he lightly noogied his red-haired boy.

Levie squealed and giggled as he leaned into the older brunette, kissed Troy's cheek, and said, "Just wait till I'm healed, Troypop. You're sooo goin' down, old man."

"It'll take more than just you, kiddo," Troy shot back as he hugged and kissed his son. He yelped when Brandon tackled him and kept struggling to escape until the younger blonde pinned him face down on the floor.

"Don't worry, Bro, Greg and I got your back." Brandon did his best evil laugh and asked, "Hey, are ya ticklish here, Troypop" as he tickled his wriggling captive's hips.

The others laughed at the men acting like the boys they were at heart as Troy squirmed and writhed on the floor with uncontrollable high-pitched laughter. When the ticklish attack was over, the playfully mischievous blonde tried to get away but got pulled back down onto the floor and trapped in a choke hold.

"Nope, you're not goin' nowhere, son," Troy playfully taunted.

The grunting, struggling blonde squealed when he was treated to a noogie, and boisterous howling laughter flowed from his parted lips seconds after his left side and stomach were tickled.

After a minute or two, Troy asked, "Ya give, Bran? Just say, uncle, baby boy." When he didn't get a response, the brunette lowered his head and leaned to the side, blowing raspberries on his animated captive's neck and kneading between the unprotected ribs.

Brandon's body jumped around like a cricket as he struggled against the unbreakable hold and laughed like crazy. After a couple seconds more of constant tickles and raspberries, he surrendered and hollered, "I... Give... Uncle!"

Troy released his giggling victim, then ruffled his hair before he hugged and kissed the giggly boy and asked, "You're the perfect fit for this family, Brokid."

"That was totally fun, I love you, Troypop," Bran said as he returned the hug and kiss.

"Love ya more, baby boy."

Linda and Tom smiled as they watched the pair's interaction. It warmed their hearts and calmed their minds to know and feel the love the Stillman family felt for their boys and them.

Ev'lynn inched closer to her new blonde grandson, looked into his sparkling blue eyes and said, "Aw, shit."

"What, Mam-Maw," Brandon asked after he and the others gathered had recovered from the surprising outburst.

"How the heck did ya get yourself all Twitterpated so quickly?"

The room filled with laughter as everyone saw the bright pink blush on Brandon's cheeks.

"That does it," Jaycen said between the boyish laughter. "No more Bambi for a year, at least, Mama."

The child-like redhead squeaked as he dodged his Mom's attempted head slap before running and hiding behind his giggling husband.

"Oh, that ain't gonna save ya, kid. Ya gotta eat with us in a few minutes," Ev'lynn light-heartedly threatened while giggling at her boy's antics.

"Son, is there something you and your brothers want to tell us," Tom asked after his laughter subsided.

"Well…"

"Bran, if the one you're interested in ever hurts you is a boy, you let Mam-Maw know, and I'll change him from a rooster to a hen with two shots," Ev'lynn said as she pulled the younger blonde into a motherly hug.

"Mam-Maw, don't tell me your sight's starting to go," Levie said.

"Yeah, Mama, it used to be that you could castrate a guy with one shot," Troy added while giggling.

"Youngin's there ain't nothin' wrong with my vision. I can still do that in one shot."

"Why'd ya say two shots, Mam-Maw," Greg asked.

Ev'lynn smirked and said, "Two shots, one fer each ball."

"Ouch," the men said as they instinctively grabbed their packages.

"What would ya do if it's a female," Linda asked.

"I'd show her a nice spot behind the woodshed. Now, c'mon, and help me get the food on the table," Ev'lynn said, chuckling and shaking her head.

Once the food was ready to be served, everyone stood around the table and held hands as Lyle said a short prayer of thanks for the family's growth.

"So, who is this person you're interested in, Bran," Linda asked before taking a bite of her fried chicken thigh.

"I just met him, his name's Rhett, something," was Brandon's sheepish response.

"You don't know his last name," Tom asked as he gazed into his birth son's eyes.

"It's Rhett Wilson. He's Uncle Bill's and Aunt Sarah's grandson," Levie said.

"Oh, he's a sweet boy," Ev'lynn said. "He's needed a decent boyfriend since his last one was such a prick."

"Mama, Mam-Maw," Troy, Jaycen, and Levie exclaimed.

"What? Don't tell me you boys think any different. After all, Lev, you slammed the creep against the stable wall and threatened to bury him where he wouldn't be found if he ever thought of hurting Rhett again," Ev'lynn nonchalantly stated before sipping her wine.

"Remind me never to get on your bad side, baby boy," Greg commented before giggling and hugging his blushing red-haired mate.

"Rhett's asked me to go on a trail ride around sunset," Brandon said before looking at his parents and asking, "Do you mind if I go?"

"Son, you're twenty years old and can make your own decisions," Linda said.

"Since we're on the subject of making decisions, my brother, mate, and I have something we'd like to propose to our parents and Bropops."

"What's on your mind, Greg," Jaycen and Troy asked.

Everyone else chuckled at the couple's unified question.

"I hope we're that in sync with each other when we've been together as long as the Bropops, my beautiful prince."

Levie kissed his raven-haired mate's cheek and said, "We're well on our way, my sweet knight."

The young couple blushed when everyone at the table chuckled and gave a collective aww.

Greg sipped his wine, then looked at Troy and Jaycen and said, "The other night, the three of us had a "brohuddle" as Lev called it. I brought up Lev's nightmare and suggested to him that because I've always wanted to live in the country, and since nothing but a mortgage is keeping me at the townhouse, and because his heart is torn between living here and with me in the city, that if the Bropops, Mama, and Papa are okay with it, we could live here at the farmhouse until Oak Ridge can be occupied."

Brandon looked at his parents and added, "If you guys don't have a problem with it, and if there's enough room, I'd like to live here and move in with my brothers as well."

"I actually think that's a well-thought-out plan," Linda said.

"What would you do with the townhouse," Tom asked.

"Well, my first thought was to rent it out. However, since you guys aren't moving and you've already sold the house, the two of you could move in and take over the mortgage."

Tom shook his head and asked, "Lin, when did our boy become so smart and mature?" He and his wife exchanged looks, then nodded before they both answered, "We accept your proposal to move into the townhouse."

"However, you'll retain ownership and add our names to the deed. That way, you can continue to receive the credit and tax benefits of home ownership," Linda added.

"What do you think, babe," Troy asked. "Do we want these tykes crampin' our newly rediscovered love of running around the house in our birthday suits?" He threw his head back and laughed at everyone's facial expressions.

Jaycen started to respond when suddenly the younger guys were staring at him and his mate with sad puppy eyes. Levie made the effect even more adorable by shedding one tear. He looked at his husband and said, "Babe, we're in deep shit now that Levie has two equally adorable brothers using their adorableness against us."

"Damn, I guess we'll have to give in to these young whippersnappers," Troy said, giggling.

Levie high-fived his brothers and exclaimed, "Oh, yeah, Brokids thirty and Bropops zip, zero, zilch. Game over, we win." He yelped when Jaycen pulled him onto his lap and cuddled him. "We love you, Dads."

Jaycen kissed his boy as Troy dried his tears and said, "We love you, Greg, and Brandon, so much more, and we'd love to have you guys living here and at Oak Ridge when it's time for y'all to move."

Troy looked at the boys and said, "When you guys move, Greg and Brandon, your names will be added to the deed."

The Wilmont brothers looked at the elders and themselves before saying, "We couldn't…"

"You can and you will," Jaycen firmly stated.

"It makes perfect sense, guys. There's no outstanding mortgage or liens on Oak Ridge or the ranch, for that matter. Stacy and Mark paid for both properties with cash, and neither they nor Jayce or Troy ever borrowed against them," Lyle added.

"Are the Bropops always so demanding and pushy?"

Jaycen playfully growled at the younger brunette, who giggled and squealed when he wrapped his arms around him. Greg struggled and tried his best but ultimately failed to escape before his grinning red-haired captor tickled his stomach and sides. The younger brunette's sock-clad feet pounded the wooden floor, and his wild laughter echoed throughout the first floor.

After about two minutes of constant tickles, Greg hollered, "Okay... You're not demanding and pushy."

"That's what I thought, kiddo," Jaycen said before he giggled, then hugged and kissed the smiling younger man.

*****

Deputy Leon Wallace and his wife, Dana, the nurse who assisted with Chris' checkup, waited with the teenager while waiting to discover if there was shared DNA, as Stuart claimed after he commented on the physical similarities between Leon and Chris, and if the pregnancy test the teen took was accurate. The trio spent the time talking about the youth's life, how he came to be in the foster care system, and who his birth parents were. After learning the mother's name, Leon admitted to having a brief, intimate relationship with Chris' mother. When asked about why he'd never come forth to claim Chris as his son, the Deputy was honest and stated that he was unaware of his existence because during their time together, the woman who birthed him was unfaithful and claimed she had no idea which guy she slept with was the actual father, so none was ever listed on the birth certificate.

"Deputy Wallace?"

"Yes, Son?"

Chris leaned his head against Leon's muscular chest, letting the tears fall freely and soak the Deputy's shirt.

"You and Nurse Wallace have made me feel more love in the short time you've been here than I've felt from any of the families who've taken me in over the years. No matter what either of the results say, would you guys be willing to take me in as a foster kid and maybe, if you're ever ready to, adopt me?"

Teary-eyed, the older couple looked at one another as they silently communicated. They both understood and felt the importance of the trust Chris was willing to place in them after the trauma and pain he'd experienced thus far in his young life. Without any doubt or hesitation in their hearts and minds, they firmly said, "We'd be honored to be your parents."

Chris couldn't, nor did he try to stop the tears that streamed down his cheeks after hearing what was said. This was the first time he could remember feeling sincerity, love, and a desire to protect him at all costs radiate from a prospective parental unit. "You both are willing to accept me, even though I'm not the right gender," he asked.

Dana dried Chris' tears and hugged the emotional teen as she said, "Baby boy, we love you, and when you're ready, we will make sure you get the procedures needed to correct your gender."

"Thank you, Mom and Dad," Chris managed to say as he sobbed and kissed the two adults.

Stuart walked in and smiled, saying, "The results are in."

Leon and Dana pulled Chris into a loving embrace as the teen asked, "Is my Dad actually my bio Dad."

"Yes, Chris, you are the biological offspring of Deputy Leon Wallace." Stuart dried his tears as the trio hugged and kissed each other.

"What about the other result, Dr. Stu," Dana asked.