short 12

After changing new clothes, Dean wanted to help Valentina but she already sat on the bed. She was fast.


Before he opened the front door, Dean held her wrist making her turned at him.


"before we head out, I want to make sure everything is okay between us, " Dean said seriously.


" I... I dont know, " she whispered.


"please? "


Now he held her face in his palms. He looked her in the eyes making her more nervous.


" I just need a yes or no, " he clearly said.


" umm.. "


" I promise to trust you more than anything, " he pecked her.


" Dean.. "


" I don't want to leave you again, Vee, " he pecked her again.


"Dean, " she held his knuckles preventing him to attack her.


Her voice was cracking.


"even after what I've been through.., " she took a deep breath. " I.. I am scared to live alone... "


" I am sorry, " his heart clenched hearing her. " I love you, baby. Always and forever.. "


"you are my everything, Dean, " her voice almost couldn't be heard. "don't leave me again. "


"no! Never! "


And they had a time to their selves. They were making out in front of the door. If they didn't remember to come to the house, he would prefer kissing her than go to anywhere.


_


He helped her getting in and strapped the seatbelt. She actually could do it by herself but you knew if he wanted to do it, you couldnt do anything.


His car made a sound as he was out from the drive way. He held her hand making her startled.


"My first and last visit was after I know you have a place to mend your lost. Sister Mariyah was happy and the same time was anxious. Then she had phone call and for the rest of the day she always in her office when I and Allen were with the kids. The kids said she always do that these days. And when I saw her out from your room, her eyes were red. I thought she said something to you. Maybe goodbye and please take care of the kids."


"wow..., " she breathed out after hearing what Dean said.


Sure she remembered it. She thought she heard someone said about those words. Her memory was blurred but she remembered sister Mariyah said she didnt have time.


Valentina then said that to him. He was just silent and gave her a nod. Dean was thinking, she thought.


Her bare hand was fidgeting. She didnt know what to say again. She'd just woke up yesterday and she already had to face another drama. The drama that woulpd make the kids devastated.


Her heart clenched.


" If you dont want to, I wont force you. I just want to say about your cheek, " Dean said after long silence. " when we are back, I want you.. We go to the hospital. I know you're not comfortable about your cheek so I can make an appointment to the best plastic surgeon. "


" umm.. I want to. It's bugging me all the time," she replied softly.


"dont ever think about the money. Everything is on me, baby," Dean kissed her hand and held it tightly.


She wanted to smile but she only could give him tight smile then she nibbled her lips.


Dean knew she was nervous. She was nervous on everything. It's the very first time they met after months and no one had a grudge at each other. And he knew her completely.


"and I want to talk to you about the kids, " Dean said again. She faced him as she couraged him to go on. " I know you love them. The kids. And especially the baby. And me too. They are the most amazing kids I ever met. They are such bunch of energy you're looking for. They support at each other, caring for each other and .. They love at each other. And the baby always be the happiest one. "


Dean smiled as he remembered Ms. Little Butt as Valentina called it. She never cried except the first time Dean met her. The rest was only the happy baby.


__


They got out from the car and hurriedly came inside. The ambulance was there and the paramedics. Another car was beside the ambulance.


This could be that someone.


Allen was waiting them in the hallway. His face was saying all.


"I gathered the kids in their room. I dont allow them to come out until I said so," he paused to take a breath. "the paramadic has already said to me that she's gone. And the people who claime this land are still inside the office. "


"oh My GOD! " Valentina gasped. She clamed her mouth as her eyes ready to pop out.


" I took it this morning, " Allen gave him the envelope from his chest pocket. " sorry I've already opened it. I am too curious. We have good news for the kids. "


Dean took the envelope and he saved it in his jacket pocket.


" I want to check on the kids, " Valentina said as she hurriedly ran upstairs.


"you wanted me to say it? "


"what? "


"about that news. "


"the kids are good, right?"


"yeah, " Allen nodded as he smiled. "you know, the kids are already orphan and they don't have any guardian here. I am afraid if the social worker takes them then they will be separated. "


" I know, " they were already inside sister Mariyah's office. " Valentina knows too. "


They met the two paramedics on their way out carrying body bag. They knew it was her.


They made a short conversation about her then everything was taken care of. The sheriff helped them to make a report.


"can you take care of the process to adopt them? "


" I will, " Allen had his phone. " I'll make some call first. "


Allen was out and he faced two people in the room. They might be that people. Then he heard the ambulance was far away.


"okay, gentlemen, here I speak on behalf deceased sister Mariyah. How may I help you? "


"sorry, we don't have much time, " the fat man said. " I am from MPVT contractor. You need 2 or 3 days to evacuate from here because we want to bulldoze this area. We will build an apartment complex with the mall and also the hotel. I've already brought the consultant to observe this land and have finale conversation with the sister but... I don't have a clue if she... Umm.. You know.. We would like to bring the kids to the social worker to put them to another institution."


"okay, I get it, " Dean said. "so here I want us to have finale conversation about this.. "


__


"hello," Valentina came inside after looking at them long enough. They played with their toys and Ms. Little Butt was on her crib squealing randomly.


The kids immediately looked at her and screamed happily. They hugged her till she didn't have space to hug them back. She laughed at them. She missed them so much. And she wanted to cry now.


They attacked her with so many questions making her laugh harder. She looked at the crib and she was already on her tummy.


"My baby," she said softly.


And she gave her, her gummy smile. Her drool never stopped to flow. Dianne was moving her head happily.


She brought the kids sat near the crib then she took her baby on her lap as she talked randomly to them. She listened on what they wanted to say as she bounced Dianne.


It brought her memory back when she would visit them in her spare time. After she was done with her job she missed them and happily to come.


When they had nice chit chat, Dianne patted her left breast. She thought Dianne wanted to play or call her. She looked down to face Dianne's frown face. She ignored first because the kids didn't stop talking.


Then she made a noise. And here come her crying. She noticed Dianne still grabbed her shirt on her left breast.


"awe, my baby is hungry, " she kissed her head.


" let me bring her milk, " Dean said as he stood heading outside.


"thank you, Dean, " Valentina said as he smiled at her.


Dianne kept crying and patted her left breast making Valentina laughed.


"sorry baby, Mama don't have breast milk, " she cooed. And her crying was getting louder.


"your brother will bring your milk," she cooed again kissing her head.


*


Junior was in the kitchen preparing his baby sister's milk. When he was ready to go upstairs, he heard noise from sister Mariyah. He came near the door frame. The door was ajar.


"you can demolish this house. Sister is already gone. You don't have to worry, " he heard Dean senior said that.


Wait.... Sister Mariyah is dead? But they had the small talk with her this morning. When did it happen?


He started crying. He didn't know what to do. How about his brothers and sister? Where would they live? Did they have to stay in the institution? What if one of them is adopted? They would be separated.


He startled when a hand touched his shoulder. He found Allen giving him sympathy look.


"would you like to go upstairs? That man will talk to you guys, " he said.


Dean wiped his eyes as he hugged the bottle. He forgot Dianne was hungry.


Allen came inside after Junior made a run to upstairs. He whispered on Dean's ear as he surprised to hear it. Then Allen took his place to talk to them.


"excuse me, gentlemen, " he nodded and took a big stride.


He peeked inside Dianne's room because many voices were heard by him. He smiled when he saw Valentina was feeding Dianne. She was singing as she bounced her.


He saw Junior sniffled in the corner as he didn't want to be seen by his brothers and Valentina. Poor guy. He didn't know the whole story.


"hi buddies, " many heads snapped at him making him chuckled. He came inside. " can I ask you to make me your favorite picture? I already put the crayons and the sketch books in your room, " they chorused yes. "and I want Junior here with me if it's okay with you guys. "


"okay, mister."


"are you in trouble, big brother?"


" I am the first, " I thought it was Dan boy said that making them headed out instantly.


"what is going on? " Valentina got worried.


"have a sit first, " Dean guided them on the old carpet. "okay, let me call you Junior because you and me have the same name so you both are not confused."


They nodded and he started to tell a simple story about what just happened. And this bigger boy cried again. It broke Valentina to look at him.


"hey, buddy, " Dean sat beside him. "you don't have to worry. We gladly take you all with us. You guys will have a house and you guys can go to school meeting new friends. Valentina absolutely excited to have you guys as her kids. And mine too. She loves you guys so much. Okay? "


"yeah, " he sniffled as he wiped his cheeks.


Dean gave Junior big hug. This kid would start his new life with them along with his brothers. They were too precious.


Someone gave them a gurgling then burped. She made a noise. The happy one.


They laughed at Dianne as if she understood what Dean said and was happy to live with them.


"are you happy, baby? " Valentina asked her then kissed her cute nose.


She made a face then gave her, her gummy smile. She touched Valentina's chin then cooed at her.


"my little butt is happy, " Dean cooed at her.


She looked at Dean and gave him a clap. She was giggling and hid her face between Valentina's arm and her left breast.


"so, tonight we have to finish the packing so you guys can come with us, " Dean continued. "you guys can come to sister Mariyah's funeral and sometimes we can make a visit to her grave. "


"are you sure? "


"why? " this time Valentina asked.


"we are 6 kids. Sister Mariyah sometimes has a bad day with us. What if.. What if you guys are bored at us? "


"that's impossible, Dean.. I mean Junior, " Valentina gave him side hug. "we love you guys. I can let you guys go to the institution. Beside, our house is bigger than here. "


Dianne's hands were reaching to Dean. He grabbed her fast before she forced herself moving towards him making her fall later.


"you little butt... You don't have any patient, right? " Dean faked his anger making her laughed.


"they will be happy to hear this, " Junior said cleaning his nose.


That day, the three adults helped the kids to pack. Dianne was on her stroller having a nap.


They prepared the funeral tomorrow then they would fly to their new home. The kids were happy and a bit confused to why sister Mariyah was not here anymore. So they explained about angels and the stars.


They got in the car as Junior was the last. Allen brought another SUV plus the driver so he could keep an eye on them. The triplets and Daniel were with him meanwhile Junior and Dianne were with Dean.


" I will miss this house, " Junior said. Valentina gave him a squeeze on his shoulders as Dean strapped Dianne glancing at him. "but, as sister said when we start a new life we create a new memory and we don't need to forget the past as it is part of our life. And I don't want to forget her. "


"you don't have too, " Valentina whispered. "she is your first mother after all. "


"okay, " Junior was emotional today. They never saw him this broken. "can I call you Mama, now? "


Valentina gave him a soft smile.


"of course, buddy, " she hugged him and his hands circled around her waist. "and Dean is your Daddy, now. "


"yeah, " he mumbled as he didn't want to let her go. " I am tired. "


" let's get you guys home, " Dean said to them then they got in the car.


Allen was already on his way to Dean's penthouse. The sooner the better. So he could have a nice sleep after that. He could start his next task with the funeral. And about the adoption thing, Allen made it faster so within 2 days they could went home. To the big city.

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