Jay

Adrian and Gloria was rightfully pissed at the deadbeat man. But Manny was excited.

"I have a dad?" He asked in wonder.

"Yes Manny, and I am your father!" Javier announced. He smartly avoided the mother and son and tried to bond with his youngest instead. "Let me tell you about how I defeated a crocodile…"

"You what?" Manny asked with starry eyes.

Javier took a peak at Adrian. "Adrian would you like to join us?"

"Yeah Rian join us" Manny added.

Adrian forced a smile, "it's okay, I'll hang out with Mama." And quietly made his way to the kitchen. Wordlessly he helped Gloria with the dishes and after a moment of silence she stopped and turned to her son.

Gloria fondly patted Adrian's hair. "It's okay to go with him you know."

Adrian shook his head.

…

That night Javier brought Manny home from their outing late in the night. Adrian was already in bed but he can hear Gloria's angry whispers. A moment later his bedroom door creaked open and Javier lowered Manny's sleeping form into the bed below Adrian's. Javier look to the top bunk where Adrian lay.

"Adrian?" He whispered. "Adrian~"

After a moment of silence Adrian angrily replied "what."

"I know you're angry at me, and I'm sorry."

"Ok" Adrian replied and nuzzled deeper into his sheets.

"Do you.. do you still get nightmares? About the zigzags?" Zigzags was a codename for lightning since the mere word made Adrian cringe.

"You'd know if you were home." Adrian replied.

"Adrian-"

Adrian whirled around and glared at Javier. "You don't get to come back and pretend to be my dad!" He hissed.

Gloria took that moment to come in. "Javier what are you doing, it's time for the boys to sleep!" She whispered and shoved him out of the room. Then she turned back at Adrian who was sitting up now. With gentle hands she wiped away the tears on Adrian's cheeks.

Embarrassed, Adrian ducked back into bed. Not before getting a kiss on the forehead for Gloria.

…

With Javier back into their lives, only Manny took it with a positive attitude. Gloria just glared at him and Adrian didn't even acknowledge his presence. Although when Manny was around Adrian would be forced to smile at the man and pretend to like him.

Javier tried confronting Adrian once more.

"Why must you be so difficult," Javier said running his hand through his hair.

"Difficult!? You disappeared for 4 years!"

"Well I'm back now aren't I? Why can't we go back to before?"

"What? So you can disappear for another 4 years? No thanks."

"Oh that's why! You think I'm going to disappear again." Javier smiled

"What?" Adrian turned around confused.

"Don't worry son, I won't disappear again. Now come into my arms" Javier opened his arms. And Adrian punched him in the face.

Javier stopped bothering Adrian after that and Adrian continued ignoring him.

…

Gloria felt extremely conflicted about her oldest and her husband. It was obvious his disappearance hurt Adrian deeply but her fool of a husband made it worst. Watching her son get gradually feel unsafe in his own home made her heart ache. While her youngest stared at the man like he hung up the stars. For herself, she felt increasingly angry when she saw him. The fleeting personality and flirty mannerisms, which was once romantic and endearing made her angry. It made her even more angry when Javier decided to take Manny to a brothel. He claimed it was a petting zoo but it was apparently the name of the place.

Slowly, bit by bit, she began growing out of love.

And in 2006 she made a decision, they should get a divorce.

Javier put up a pathetic fight, Manny even more so. But Gloria was determined. And once the divorce was finalised, the trio moved to LA for a new life.

…

Adrian easily fitted into his new school. With his handsome appearance (thanks to his parent's genes) and outgoing personality, the kids easily let him in. Manny struggled a lot. He was more quirky and romantic so the kids picked on him. But when big brother Adrian gave a stern talking to the kids, Manny was left alone.

…

Aunt Sonia came to visit on June 2008 and Gloria waved the brothers off as the sisters went to the diner to catch up. Adrian and Manny shrugged and ate their lunch peacefully.

Gloria came home with starry eyes. "I think I met my future husband." She declared to her sons.

The weeks blurred passed and Jay, Gloria's new boyfriend, continuously showered her with lavish gifts. Adrian initially thought Gloria loved Jay for his money, but he watched his mother talk about Jay with loving eyes, and mentally prepared himself to meet this man.

"I'm Jay." An older man said. With a firm handshake and maintaining eye contact, Adrian knew this man stood on business.

"I'm Adrian." Adrian smiled cheerfully, returning the firm handshake.

Then Jay turned to Manny and did the same. Adrian noticed Manny wince a bit at the handshake and Jay hesitating.

The dinner went smoothly, Jay made small talk and Adrian answered honestly. After a few more dinners and lunches Gloria asked her kids an important question.

"I want to move in with Jay." She declared.

"With us?" Manny asked dumbly.

"Of course with you mi amor! With both of you." Gloria said.

"Are you sure Mum?" Adrian asked. "If we move in with him…"

Gloria patted Adrian's hands. "I'm sure." She looked him in the eyes.

"Okay, let's move." Adrian nodded.

…

"This is your room" Jay gestured to the door.

Manny peaked out from his room next door. "Look Rian! We have our own rooms!"

Adrian grinned at Manny. "Pretty cool huh? I bet I can pack my room faster than yours."

Manny gasped. "Yea- What's in it for me?"

"Manny you're learning! What about… the loser has to clean the other's room for a week."

"Deal! Wait- my side- room is always clean!"

"No take backsies." Adrian laughed and dashed down stairs to grab the boxes. Manny let out groan and chased after him.

Jay watched them go with a smile. Gloria crept up next to him and they both watched the pair fondly.

The competition ended in a draw because Gloria declared it was dinner time.

Adrian observed his room with a content smile. All his stuff was put away and he had his own private space. He ignored Gloria and Jay's talking down stairs and quietly closed his door. He ignored the nagging feeling on the back of his head.