As Stefan and Jordan Youngblood’s family and extended family continued to grow, it also continued to grow closer.

The group was consistently in each other’s lives. Since Stefan and Jordan had bought all of the property surrounding their Fort Worth home, they had houses built for each of the guys as they got older and married or were practically married. With all of their houses close to each other, not a day went by that they weren’t in each other’s homes.

Vince Markov and Andrei Panchenko-Markov started going home to Russia every six months to deal with the growing families of the former Russian mob, now bound by a pact to engage in legitimate businesses. Sure, they had to kill someone who needed killing every once in a while, but it was always for legitimate reasons. Vince replaced Ivan as Andrei’s head of security and Ivan, in turn, became Andrei’s right-hand man. He took over the Vince’s duties when Andrei left for the second home in Fort Worth.

James Greco and Tomas Russo went to college together in Europe, coming home for holidays. Lorenzo Costa and Jay Reynolds’ security company had merged with the one run by Damon Santorno Sr., forming the number one security agency in the world. With the merger, Justin Maddox, Dimitri Voronova, Roman Trevino, Lorenzo, Alex Cannon, and Tyler Youngblood teamed together in the war against drugs, child pornography, and human trafficking. And Marco and Antonio gained Chris Voronova, Brett Trevino, Brandon Maddox, Reece Costa and Dylan Cannon on site for medical and computer expertise.

The dads spent all their off time with the kids, watching them grow up too fast. It seemed like mere days since they had gone from singing lullabies to answering every question a little brain could come up with.

Tanner Youngblood and his adopted cousin, Nico Youngblood, spent every waking moment together until Nico changed schools. Phoebe Greystone and the younger Stefan Youngblood were as close as ever.

Isabelle and Jacob Sanders had moved home from the Philippines, which thrilled her fathers, Stefan and Jordan, and made it possible for them to spoil grandkids Lucy and little Jordan rotten for a while— along with the rest of the grandkids.

The youngest children were past the Terrible Twos and not quite to the Tweens. Stefan and Jordan had all the grandchildren at their house for a week after school let out for summer. It had become a ritual. The fathers — loving though they were — welcomed the break from the kids for a while. But they still spent most days with them at Stefan and Jordan’s.

Colin Greystone held Nikolai Markov in his lap and they were sharing a Popsicle on the back deck.

“I missed you.” Nikolai snuggled into Colin.

“I missed you too.” Colin smiled and kissed his forehead.

Nico and Tanner were swimming back and forth in the pond. Tanner felt Nico grab his ankle.

“I can swim much better now, you know.”

Nico took him in his arms. “I know. I just missed you.”

“I’m glad you’re here for the summer.”

“Well, I feel like I haven’t seen you at all except for weekends.”

“It’s because you’re older.”

Stefan watched the love of his life Phoebe on the dock in a bikini and was pretty sure he was drooling.

“Napkin?”

Stefan turned to find his Uncle Paul — Phoebe’s father — staring at him. “Sorry.”

“You’re a guy. It happens.” Paul chuckled. “You’ve been behaving with her right?” Paul cocked an eyebrow.

“Seriously, Uncle Paul? I like breathing.”

“Good answer!” Paul laughed.

Jensen had come racing out of the house with his father, Justin, right on his heels; he was giggling the whole way and Justin grabbed him and threw him in the air.

“I got you! You’re not so grown I can’t still toss you!”

“I’m going to throw up, Daddy!” Jensen screamed.

“Eww.” Hunter made a face and Roman snatched him up.

“How’s my boy?” Roman kissed his cheek.

“Daddy!” Hunter let out a loud sigh. “I’m not a baby.”

“You’ll always be my baby.” Roman smiled and kissed his cheek.

“You look like a baby,” Evan teased.

“Shup, Van.”

“Now, now,” Landon said, as he came out of the house holding Katiana’s hand. “You all behave.”

“I’m being haive.” Ryan was lying in the lounge chair. He raised his arms out to Evan and they sat with each other. “You’re burning, Van.”

“I got sunblock on…Daddy lathered it all over me.” Evan pouted.

“I did no such thing.” Dimitri corrected as he came out with Chris.

Chris looked at his son. “You need more. Ryan’s right; you’re burning.”

“Then I’ll sit in the shade. I’m greasy enough already,” Evan complained.

“Josh, wait up.” Katarina chased Josh down to the pond.

“You are such a girl.” Josh laughed.

“Duh.” Katarina smacked him.

Tyler and Damon Youngblood sat with Vince and Andrei on the deck watching the kids play. Mark Greystone joined them.

“God, they have gotten so big.” Mark was watching Colin and Nikolai.

Juliet ran from the house screaming, with Conner right on her heels. Paul grabbed him and kissed him, laughing at his son struggle.

“Dad!” Conner smiled. “She splashed me.”

“Well, go get her then.” Paul laughed.

“Juliet!” Lorenzo could be heard miles away. “You will come back here and put some sunblock on!”

“Daddy!” Juliet stomped her foot and pouted.

“That does not work anymore, young lady.”

“It totally does.” Reece chuckled.

“You be quiet.” Lorenzo pushed Reece gently.

“Make me.” Reece waggled his eyebrows.

Stefan came out with Jordan and a pitcher of lemonade and everyone settled back to watch the kids play in the pond. Viktoriya and Phoebe were inseparable unless little Stefan or little Jordan was around. Viktoriya and little Jordan had become fast friends and Isabelle and Jacob could tell they would eventually end up together. Little Jordan looked more like Jacob every day; his dark hair and dark eyes were mesmerizing.

“Grandpa?”

“Yes, Lily?” Jordan replied.

“Can we make a fort in the living room?”

“Don’t you always?” Jordan chuckled.

“Yes, but we still have to ask.” Lily giggled. “Are you going to help again?”

“Don’t I always?”

Damon Jr. came out and took Lily’s hand. “Are you ready?”

“Grandpa said we can make a fort.”

“Cool.”

“Damon?”

“Yes, Uncle Mark?” Damon turned to Mark.

“Please pull Lily’s hair into a ponytail,” Mark instructed. “She looks like the wicked witch.”

“Okay.” Damon smiled wickedly.

“Not too tight.” Paul cocked an eyebrow.

“Man,” Damon sighed.

Damon took her hand and they went over to the pond bag. He took out a scrunchie and saw the pout on Lily’s face.

“What?”

“Why are you so mean to me?” Lily pouted.

Damon took her in his arms. “I’m sorry, sometimes I forget you’re a girl.”

“That’s bad?” Lily looked up at him.

“No.”

“You like me, right?”

Damon had always liked Lily, with her long black hair and piercing gray eyes. They spent all their time together.

“Of course, Lily.” Damon hugged her hard.

 

“So tomorrow, it’s birthday time.” Mark sighed.

“Why does it seem like we just get through one and another pops up?” Heath chortled.

“So, Mason and Dominic and the Eo’s aren’t going to make it, huh?” Jake asked.

“No, they’re undercover. I hear from them once a month,” Jay told the group. “Usually from Theo and Mason.”

“They are safe and they will have backup if needed,” Lorenzo added.

“Good, I need a vacation.” Tyler sighed.

“I’m just glad you guys are back.” Damon caressed his husband’s face. “The boys missed you.”

“Juliet drove me crazy without her pushover daddy here,” Reece laughed.

“I am sorry my love.” Lorenzo kissed him.

Colin had fallen asleep in the lounge chair and Nikolai was rubbing his face and smiling. Colin was his best friend in the whole world and he always watched out for Nik. Nikolai looked up to see his father looking at him.

“What?”

Vince mussed his hair. “You like him.”

“I love him, Daddy.” Nikolai blushed crimson.

“Oh really?” Andrei raised an eyebrow.

“He’s my bestest friend.”

“Well, we know he loves you.” Mark smiled at Nikolai.

“Really?” Nikolai’s smile should have broken his face, it was so big.

“Oh, definitely.” Paul settled back.

“So, what’s the plan for tonight?” Kyle asked the group.

“Well, we’re childless thanks to Dad.” Paul took Stefan’s hand.

Stefan laughed loud. “You know Jordan and I love having the kids for a week. It’s like summer camp to them and they all have fun together.”

“I think you just love the fact that the house is loud again.” Caleb laughed.

“I’ll admit it gets quiet sometimes.” Jordan smiled.

“Grandpa?”

“Little me!” Jordan picked Jordan up. “How are you? Where are your mom and dad?”

“Unloading the car. Lucy’s inside.”

“It’s so good to see you.” Jordan held him tight.

“Jordan!”

The kids had spotted him on the deck and ran up to hug him. Evan and Ryan had him in a tight hug.

“Van, need air,” Jordan choked out.

“We missed you!” Josh and Landon hugged him next.

“What about me?” Lucy stood in the doorway, her hands on her hips.

“Lucy!”

The loud screams had all the adults covering their ears as all the kids attacked Lucy. Isabelle came out with Jacob and it was the adults’ turn to go crazy with the hugging.

“Hi, Daddy.” Isabelle cupped Stefan’s cheek.

“Oh, honey.” Stefan held her close.

“Please, don’t cry; then I’ll cry and everyone will cry.”

They spent the afternoon listening to Isabelle and Jacob talk about their adventures. Jacob’s job took them all over the globe and Jordan and Lucy were learning to speak new languages. Viktoriya had stolen Jordan away and hugged him tight.

“I missed you so much.”

Jordan held her. “I missed you too.”

“Are you staying for a while?”

“I hope so.”

“Good, because I think my cell phone bill exploded last time.” Viktoriya giggled.

“I know mine is going to be through the roof.” Jordan held her hand.

The minute Jordan Sanders had set eyes on Viktoriya Markov he had thought she was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. They met when he had come back from Africa with his parents and he was smitten the moment her eyes had met his. Viktoriya was looking at him right now with a sly smile and he raised an eyebrow.

“What?”

“I was wondering…” Viktoriya blushed.

“What were you wondering? Don’t strain yourself,” Jordan teased.

“Jordan Sanders!” Viktoriya laughed and smacked him. “I wanted to know if you would kiss me.”

It was Jordan’s turn to blush. “Um, how come?”

“Because I like you, and I want my first kiss to be with a boy I like,” Viktoriya told him.

Jordan looked up at the deck and saw his uncles talking with his parents; Uncle Vince honestly scared the piss out of him. Uncle Andrei was a lot calmer when it came to his daughter.

“Let me ask your dad first, okay?”

“Seriously?” Viktoriya laughed. “You’re scared of my dad?”

“Everyone is scared of your dad!” Jordan got Andrei’s attention and Andrei left the deck to join them.

“What is it?” Andrei asked.

“Viktoriya would like me to kiss her, so I’m asking permission.” Jordan blushed again.

“You are quite the gentleman, Jordan. I will allow it.” Andrei tried hard not to laugh. “Please, carry on.”

When Andrei got back to the deck, he told them all to face the other direction. Vince raised an eyebrow at his husband, as well as Jacob.

“What’s going on?” Vince asked Andrei.

“Young Jordan would like to kiss our daughter.” Andrei covered his mouth and tried not to laugh.

“Excuse me?” Vince sat up and Andrei grabbed him.

“It is just a kiss, Vince.”

“Kisses lead to other things,” Jacob growled.

“You would know.” Isabelle took Jacob’s hand. “Now, sit down and leave them be.”

Viktoriya smiled as Jordan took her hand and leaned in, his lips touched hers in a featherlight kiss, and he pulled away and looked into her face. Her eyes were still closed, and he smiled.

“How was that?”

Viktoriya opened her eyes. “It was perfect for my first kiss.”

“Yeah? It was my first kiss too.”

“Really?” Viktoriya loved his brown eyes; they were like milk chocolate.

“Well yeah, I don’t go around kissing everyone.”

“Just me?” Viktoriya beamed as Jordan hugged her tight.

“Just you.”

Andrei was watching over the rim of his sunglasses and he smiled at the two of them hugging.

“Is it over?” Vince asked.

“You are such a big baby, Vince.” Isabelle slapped his arm.

“That’s my little girl,” Vince pointed out.

“She’s not so little anymore; she’s what — an official teenager now, right?”

“Oh no, what happened?” Charlie Youngblood-Staten came out on deck with her husband, Michael.

“Young Jordan just kissed Viktoriya,” Lorenzo informed her.

“Oh, babe. Remember when we were kids?” Charlie smiled at Michael.

“I was your first kiss.” Michael pulled her in. “And I’ve been making you faint since.”

“Michael Staten.” Jordan raised a brow.

“What? I made her mine legally.”

“Yeah? She’s still mine too.” Jordan laughed and hugged Charlie. “How’s work?”

“Cutting and keeping people alive.” Charlie smiled.

“That’s my girl.” Charlie had surpassed even him as a great neurosurgeon and she was now working full time at Medical Center West while Michael ran his famous restaurant in town. Michael’s half-sister, Julia Cunningham, and her boyfriend, Steve Soloman, had moved to Boston with her son, Logan. Julia managed Michael’s world-renowned restaurant there.

“Did you order the cakes?” Stefan quizzed Jordan.

“Yes, I did, and I know you thought I forgot.” Jordan chuckled.

“Well, you do seem to have dementia these days.” Stefan stifled a laugh.

“Ha ha.” Jordan pinched Stefan’s ass.

“Well, next week.” Josh Reynolds put his arm around his husband, Jason. “We have a trip to make to the cemetery.”

Jay sighed and held his husband Greg’s hand. “God, it feels like it happened just yesterday.”

“And we still miss him. We always will.” Tanner McKinley’s death had happened during a robbery, but Stefan now made sure all the kids wore tracking bracelets which resembled regular ID bracelets because kidnappings had become a disturbing pattern. They hadn’t had any threats over the last four and a half years but it paid to be careful when their grandfather was a former mob boss with enemies. Stefan wasn’t about to lose another child.

Joshua quietly came up on deck and collapsed into his father Jason’s arms.

“What’s wrong?” Jason picked him up.

“I’m so tired, Daddy.” Joshua snuggled into Jason.

“Nap time, I think.” Josh smoothed his son’s hair back.

Stefan and Jordan called the kids in and they all went to get settled for a nap.

 

Little Stefan was sitting with Phoebe out on the dock and he couldn’t stop staring at her; she was even more beautiful now than before. Their relationship had been kisses only and so far, with no tongue. Stefan had been okay with that and he still was, although he always wanted more. His father had told him that was normal.

“Stefan?” Phoebe seemed hesitant.

“Yeah?”

“Are you mad we don’t do anything but kiss?”

Stefan’s eyes went wide; it was as if she had read his mind. “No, I’m okay with it. When you’re ready, we’ll move on to the next stage. We’re still pretty young.”

“Jaime said I’ll lose you if I don’t kiss you with tongue.” Phoebe looked down in her lap.

“Hey.” Stefan pulled her face up. “I love you. I can wait.”

“Really?” Phoebe took his hand. “I know you’re older than me, Stefan, and I understand if you want someone else.”

“I will never want anyone but you Phoebs, don’t you know that?” Stefan leaned in and kissed her.

Phoebe had wanted to try French kissing but the thought of being bad at it and being scared out of her mind had always stopped her. If Stefan would wait for her to be ready, then they would wait.

“I love you, Stefan,” Phoebe whispered.

“I’ve always loved you.” Stefan replied.

Mark and Paul and Caleb and Heath watched their children from the deck.

“Still together after all this time,” Mark mused.

“That kid loves your daughter. I can tell you that much.” Heath smiled at Stefan and Phoebe walking hand-in-hand.

“I can’t believe he’s a teenager.” Heath sighed. “Where does the time go?”

“Wait till he starts driving.” Paul laughed.

“Shhhh!” Caleb hissed. “That word is not spoken in our house.”

“Drive?” Mark chuckled.

“More birthdays.” Vince sighed. “I miss the newborn stage.”

“I do too, I got so much time to relax.” Dylan laughed.

“Very funny, Dylan.” Alex took his hand. He had been one of the ‘crazy dads’ who tried to do everything for the baby by himself.

“Well, let’s say our goodbyes and head out.” Paul stood up.

“Do I have to?” Jake Russo pointed at husband Dante. “I know you secretly hate the week away.”

“It’s because all I can think about is Landon Reynolds all over my daughter.” Dante turned to Jay.

“They cuddle. He’s been nothing but respectful. Besides, they’re still kids! He doesn’t even know what sex is. I think.” Jay frowned.

“Oh God, he said the ‘S’ word, Kyle.” Dante covered his ears.

“Oh for fucks sake.” Kyle took Dante’s hand. “See you guys tomorrow.”

“Count on it.” Reece smiled.