It's Always Something - 10. Chapter 10

Alvora sat beside her husband. The matriarch's fingers caressed his firm but gentle hands. Declan's was the only man strong enough to hold and protect her heart and fearless enough to help raise the children they created. Declan's tears dripped down his cheeks as he lifted his wife's hand to his lips, kissed each slender finger, and held it against his cheek.

"Love, we knew this day would come."

Declan sighed, "I know, lass. I just... I wish it wasn't so soon and in such an unsettling time for our clan. All our boys, not only our birth sons but all the boys, Vora, I feel like we're abandoning all of them. In such a short period, each one of those beautiful creatures has attached themselves to our hearts. We've surrounded ourselves with a strong and loyal clan. How can we leave them now?"

Alvora dried her tears and then did the same for her soul mate. "Dec, Cam's grown, and Ian's almost an adult. They are brave, powerful young men who look after each other, add in their mates, and I'd hate to see the poor soul who crosses them."

Declan shook his head and chuckled for the first time since receiving the call from Ireland. "As always, you're right, m'lady."

"You sit and finish your bourbon. Our guests will be here in about an hour. I'll go check on dinner."

The time passed quickly for the couple because before they knew it, George, John, Starla, and Mitch walked through the front door. They were also joined by Vicki Trenton and her husband, Bryce. Bryce was the current superintendent of the school board, and Vicki was the county's juvenile and domestic court judge. After the hugs and pleasant greetings were out of the way, everyone sat in the family room with predinner drinks.

Alvora sat beside her husband and gazed into everyone's eyes before taking a breath and getting to the reason for the gathering. "First, thanks for coming tonight. Declan and I greatly appreciate you all."

Vicki smiled as she brushed a few stray strands of light brown hair away from her brown eyes. "Hey, girl, we're always here for you two and your boys."

Declan patted his wife's hand and then took a deep breath. "Guys, I got a call from my Mom's solicitor. When we decided to move here, Vora and I knew we'd be returning home at some point to take over the family business. Unfortunately, that time has come. Mom's been diagnosed with Alzheimer's and has been on a slow decline for the last year and a half. Luckily, the business hasn't suffered yet, but time is running out."

"We'll be leaving the first week of December," Alvora stated. She held up her hand to hold off the incoming reactions. "The boys don't know yet. We'll let them know tomorrow."

George got up and hugged his chosen brother and sister. "You will be coming back, eventually?"

Declan wiped the tears from his eyes. "For visits. We've maintained our dual citizenship and have no intention of relinquishing either one."

"What about the boys," Vicki asked. She and Bryce were mountain lion shifters and knew Rhylan and Fabien were mates.

"There are a few options we've considered," Alvora responded. "The first option is emancipation. Ian's turning seventeen in a couple weeks, so it made the most sense. Another option we thought of was asking either George or Cameron to take custody, and the final option was to see if Rhy would like to be Ian's legal guardian."

"Of course, this all depends on what Ian wants. Vora and I've decided to let him make the decision," Declan said.

"No matter the decision, you know I'll always watch over all our sons," George firmly promised.

"We will also," Stacy and Mitch said in unison.

"I see the logic in all the options, and knowing the four boys as well as I do, I'll make sure that whatever is decided is what happens," Vicki stated.

"What about the house and property," John asked.

"That's already been put into a trust for Cam, Rhy, Ian, and Tay that Dec and I are in charge of, and should anything happen to us before Rhy and Ian are twenty-five, then George and John will be our successors.

George and John stared open-mouthed at their hosts, which caused everyone else to start laughing.

"You're our brothers, and we trust you with more than our lives," Declan said as he walked up and embraced the Stormcloud men. "We trust you with our birth children. You're their Papa and their Uncle John."

*****

"I can't believe I did this," Fabien muttered as he tearfully surveyed the damage.

Cameron, Rhylan, and Taylor all had tears in their eyes as they held the youngest of the group in a love-filled embrace. The trio was doing everything possible to comfort the emotional teen.

"Ian, look at me," Rhylan firmly but gently commanded. The eighteen-year-old turned his mate so they faced one another and placed his hands on the younger male's shoulders.

Fabien stood still with his head bowed, unwilling to look into the eyes of his future husband.

"Fabien Michael O'Leary, I want you to open your eyes and look into mine," Rhylan repeated.

The redhead gasped and complied. Slowly, his tear-stained face rose, and he blinked his shimmering green eyes a couple times before looking into the soft brown orbs that stared through him and into the core of his soul.

Cameron and Taylor held hands as they walked into the kitchen to give the younger pair privacy.

"You are not responsible for this. It happened because your power and Cam's fed into and strengthened each other." Rhylan said. He stroked his witch's hair and cheeks as Fabien slowly nodded, then buried his face in his firm chest and sighed.

Taylor and Cameron lovingly wrapped their arms around the younger pair and kissed the side of their brother's heads.

"Ya wanna help me with a spell, Lil' Red?"

Fabien lifted his head and gazed into his older brother's sparkling eyes. "Really? This is the first time you've asked me to help."

Cameron narrowed his eyes and stared into the younger witch's quivering iris'. "Bro, I've done magic with you lots of times." He gasped when both his brothers shook their heads no. "Fuck, have I really been that neglectful of a brother? I'm supposed to help you with your magic, and you're telling me I've never done that?"

Fabien patted his brother's shoulder and stood on his toes to kiss Cameron's cheek. "It's not your fault, bro. I'm just now coming into my active powers, and my telepathic powers were handled by Mom and Papa Greywolf.

Cameron gripped Fabien's shoulders and stared unflinchingly into the shorter male's eyes. "I give you my word, little brother, that from now on, I'm gonna help you become as kick ass as me."

Taylor chuckled and said, "You two are only bad asses as long as you're not rendered helpless and tickled into hysterical oblivion."

Cameron and Fabien shared a head nod before they tackled the muscular shifter and launched a unified tickle assault. Taylor's boisterous laughter echoed through the house. His legs kicked the air until Rhylan jumped on them, pinning them to the floor before he tickled the sock-clad feet. His body writhed and bucked under the combined weight of his mate and brothers. It wasn't long before he voiced his surrender. The trio of playful ticklers stood up. Cameron braced himself and helped Taylor stand. The red-haired witch squirmed and giggled the second his new mate's fingers kneaded the fleshy spot just above his hips.

The witches locked eyes and connected their minds as they joined hands. Their eyes were glowing as Cameron took the lead so they could recite the incantation he had in mind to fix what was damaged. The four men could feel the power and magic in the air. They could hear it pop and sizzle as the hairs on their necks and arms stood up. In a matter of seconds, the devastated areas of the house were sparkly and looked brand new. Cameron and Fabien released their connection, and they, along with Taylor and Rhylan, began cheering and shared a four-way group hug with their mates.

*****

When Taylor, Cameron, Rhylan, and Fabien got to their parent's house, the first thing discussed was the deepened relationship from brotherly best friends to soulmates between the eldest sons. Once the celebratory congratulations died down, everyone got to the main reason all the boys were asked to be there.

"You're going back to Ireland?"

Alvora and Declan stood with heavy hearts before their youngest birth child, with his hands clasped in theirs as their four boys digested the surprising news.

"Aye, that we are, meh lad," Declan softly said as he pulled Fabien into one of his most loving embraces.

Fabien's tears streamed down his cheeks as he quietly sobbed with his head on his Dad's chest. Alvora was doing her part by comforting their other three boys.

"I don't want to come off as selfish," Rhylan said, "but what does this mean for me and my leprechaun?"

The family elders led the young men and teens into the dining room, where everyone got ready to eat and continue the discussion.

"Well, you all know I'm more than willing to be Ian's guardian alongside either Papa George or Rhylan," Cameron stated with his arm around his brother's shoulders. He grinned when the younger redhead leaned into him and laid his head on him.

Fabien sipped his wine and then took a moment to gaze into the eyes of everyone at the table before voicing his thoughts. "No matter what I choose, I'm not required to return with you, correct?"

"Not unless you want to. No one's forcing you to choose between your father and me and staying here with our family," Alvora said.

"I know I'm staying here. I can't be away from my mate. We love and rely on each other. Also, I was young when we left Ireland, and honestly, I can't see myself calling Dublin home. I think being emancipated is the best avenue," the redhead paused and held his mate's hand, "Rhy, would you consider splitting where we live between here, our brothers, and Papa George's houses?"

"I think that's a brilliant idea, Ian. We can be independent when we want and need to be while also having the security of having an adult presence."

The four eldest family members glanced at each other and smiled as they witnessed the growing maturity of their teenagers.

"It's decided then?" Declan asked as he took a bite of his steak.

"That it is, Dad," Fabien stated. He stood up, walked over to his parents, and wrapped his arms around them. "I love you both and am grateful you guys trust me enough to let me decide what's best for my future."

Alvora smiled and kissed her youngest boy. "Don'cha be gettin' any ideas, boyo. Yer Dad and I aren't leavin' until the end of the month. We wanted to be here for your birthday next week."

Everyone chuckled when Fabien adopted a hurt expression that melted away and was replaced by his squealing and giggling when Declan pulled him onto his lap, wrapped his arms around his squirming body, and tickled his sides and stomach until he cried out his surrender.