pickuptoy

Fantastic chapter. A lot was covered in this one. Such a Merry Christmas by all. I think Armand and Colin's Christmas was best of all. Their gift is seeing everyone having a great time. Marcel coming back was an extra present for them and I believe will be a common occurrence for him. This is now the place he will call home. Thanks you CL for what you do for us!

Great story! I have had a couple of old women like Nonna in my life that meant a great deal to me also. And also, like Nonna they were not blood related to me either. But both were like a grandmother, full of knowledge and great cooks. Not many days go by that I don't think of them. But the memories are great! It was just as hard when it was time for them to go as it was with my two real grandmothers. I hope everyone has or have had a Nonna in their lives.

I think a video of the 4 little ones goofing around and acting like they were drunk would be hilarious!

I wish he would have offered an exchange for either the painting of Christen, or then of his bride for the painting by GG. Having it back home so all the family could enjoy it would have been great. Maybe something work out in the future. Keep upt the great work CL!!

I am a true believer in guns. I about 14 myself. Pistols, rifles and shotguns. And I am also a proud member of the NRA. And I have owned both rifles and shotguns since I was 10 years old. I got a 22 rifle for my birthday when I was 10 and a 410 shotgun for Christmas when I was 11. And I would have done the same as Trevor and had 1 or 2 hid away. But in this case it had nothing to do with Trevor's age. He could have been 21, 41 or 81 years old, he broke the laws of Australia by not declaring it when he got there. It's the stupid gun laws of Australia that you should be pissed at instead of Fowler. Fowler is to be commended for handling it the way he did. He let Trevor off even though he did take his gun. I think as the story goes on you will come to really respect Fowler.

Ronnie, Ritchie, Ivan, and Tommy are taking on their rightful roles as being big brothers without having to be urged too. They just fell right into it. Can't wait to see how they are going to be swooning over their little sisters. I wonder if Ivan will go on the trip with the rest. I am sure it would be hard for him to leave his garden and other projects he has for two weeks. Great Story. Keep up the great work CL!!

I agree with you dutch woman. I was hoping some of Colin's moms friends would fall in love with some of the kids at the home. They spend lots of time during Christmas and other times shopping, and getting them makeovers and doing girlie things with them. They should only be in their late 40's and early 50's now. Also some of the art students might get attached to some and have their parents come and visit the home. The construction men do a lot of things the kids too, buying them things at Christmas and other times. You would think some of them might would be interested in adoption. And then there are other members of the club that could be persuaded into thinking about it. Clean the home out and get ready for an all new bunch of needy kids. I just wonder what goes through the other kids minds when Armand and Colin adopt some of the kids and not them. Its got to bother them. Why them and not me! Why can't they adopt me too! Sad!

I believe the portrait may end up being the most expensive one that Armand has ever done. He may even try to give some of the money back to Arnaud, but he will not take any back. I hope some of the art students really take interest in the kids at the home. Maybe the ones that are from a long way from Yale miss their younger siblings back home and this helps them. Who know one or two may have parents that have talked about dreading being empty nesters and have thought about adopting and bring their parent so the home. I hope lots of good comes out of it, who know maybe some very talented young people there. I hope John is back to his original old self real soon. Fishing trips will need him in the future. Great Story CL. Keep up doing what you're doing. You are definitely appreciated!

I too was surprised that Armand or Colin didn't speak with the Santa and find out what Toby might have told him he wanted for Christmas. He may have specifically said Armand and Colin as his Dad's. Armand's parents may wish they had moved as soon as Armand's Dad retired.

Another Great chapter. Keep up the great work. Happy New Year to you, your family, and all your devoted readers and fans.

Looks like a pretty good size package down there too! He packs it to his right! Big long nose and looks like long fingers too! LOL!!

I think my Mom's Stroganoff came from the same recipe. After stuffing myself with it, I thought all my comrades in the world had eaten!! I am laughing along with you on both the assessment of Castlereagh and Hawkesbury’s looks. Below is Lord Hawkesbury and then below that is Lord Castlereagh Lord Hawkesbury Lord Castlereagh Lord Castlereagh

Great Chapter. Thank you Mark for the New Years Day chapter. Happy New Year! I can't believe that Freddie and also seems his dad would stoop so low as to want to leave Berti out if they could get a deal with Granger. I don't think Grangers dad is hurting for money, so that is what surprises me. Freddie not so much. Look forward to the House of Lords tomorrow, and the dinner celebration tomorrow night.

So far as I have read your stories from you first one all the way to your last one ARROW. I have changed my mind on which one was my favorite a few times. I had skipped Timothy because it said, "on hold" but after a getting bored after catching up with ARROW and waiting for more chapters to be released I started on this one. Timothy has now moved into #1 spot. Excellent story! I hope you get on with the sequel soon. I am hoping Ann Marie and Alex will get an invite for a tour at the Sisters of Mercy facility, and while there meet a child, or maybe siblings from 6 to 8 or 10 years old that Ann Marie falls in love with instantly, and Alex is also. Might be just what it takes for them to become a complete loving family. I also think Gramps needs a companion. Aunt Clara is busy right now with being a nanny. She is also probably about 20 years younger than Gramps. But with them being around each other now that she is living with Tim and Stephen, by the time Gramps gets ready to retire in about 4 - 5 years. Randy will be out of college about that time too. Might be far-fetched, but I like the idea!

Or maybe Donnie put the thought into a dream for Judge Howard that there is likely a leak or info being passed on to Bruce.

That is what I am thinking too.

I thought that Armand and Colin bought it, but were hoping that the couple and I can't recall their name at the moment, but they owned the Italian restaurant there in New Haven that was from the village might want to buy it. If I remember right, that property was once owned by them or their family. But hey, I sometimes can't remember what I had for dinner the night before.

The little sister has been mentioned a lot. But just didn't see here on this trip.

Mine too!

My same thought as I was reading this chapter. But apparently Stephen's parents didn't come to his graduation then.

I know how it is to miss where you have lived before. The close proximity to places and some old friends are not there anymore. There is 105 miles between my old place and my new one. Even though I get back up there about once a week, I still miss meeting friend's multiple times a week for lunch, dinner, parties, etc. Makes you want to sell again and move back, but now have a number of new fiends, lunches, dinners, and parties that it would effect. Thanks for the chapter! Or now I may say chapters! Happy New Year!

I am wondering about the missed phone call. Who was it from? Could it have been Travis? Could Zach ruffed up or hurt Travis? Or was it JJ pissed about Will leaving. Maybe Zanie didn't tell him that Will had told her he was leaving and not be home until morning. I just don't have a real good feeling about this phone call. But maybe it is nothing. Could just be Darius checking on him. Great Chapter Mark. Look forward to more. Happy New Year!

A couple guys need to go and pay a visit to Peter's so called dad, beat the shit out of him. Maybe break both arms or maybe an arm and leg. Get his attention and let him know this can happen to him again and again if he knows what is best for him he will have to be a good boy. Maybe pay restitution to Peter for the time he had to leave home until his 21st birthday. I hope everyone has Happy Holiday's whichever one you celebrate. Be safe. Going to be very cold here in the S. E. US. in the teens or single digits in lots of places.

I don't know the reason for it, but somehow I thought they boys and the 1 girl that left the village in Italy had no family and that was the reason they were going back to New Haven was to live. I thought Colin and Armand were going to adopt them. But this chapter sounded otherwise. I do think both the little girl that stole Armand's heart a number of chapters ago, and the at the time 11 month old baby that they young girl abandoned will both be adopted by the guys. The extra room by Maria's I figure is for the toddler, I believe the other was about 5 years old then.

Another Great chapter. Glad they are all finally home. I wonder what they are going to do with their old apartments above the Club. Expand the club out some more? Maybe have a room up there for the pinball machines and other games? Move Marco and his helper in there? Open the top deck with a bar? Lots of options!